War is the anger of bewildered peoples in front of questions that they can’t answer.
The First Spokesman
The quarrel is so little beside the desolation that is coming.
The Second Spokesman
One year ... two ... three ... perhaps four! Then there will be just graves and a story and America.
[Suddenly a pool of bloody light explodes upon the right of the stage and shows a knoll of gray uniforms about the flag of the Confederacy and the men in the light burst into the wild abandon of “Dixie.”
Then another pool of bloody light shows blue uniforms and the men and all the Chorus behind sing “John Brown’s Body” again, full voice.
Then the light upon Lincoln is white and includes the group of slaves and the figure of Freedom.]
Lincoln
All persons held as slaves are and, henceforward, shall be free. And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God.