n the Declaration of Independence, for the
latter resulted in the freedom of only a part of the people, and their
number was one million less than the number set free in 1863. In 1790,
when the first census was taken, fourteen years after the Declaration,
the entire population was not quite four millions and of that number
697,624 were left in a state of slavery.

That "all men are created free and equal," is a fundamental principle of
the Declaration, but, for more than four-score years, it was regarded as
true of only a part of the people. It was not realized by the other part
of the people, that was gradually increasing from one to four millions.
For them there was but one law and it was, "Servants obey your masters."
This was the only rule of conduct for the negro. Under it he became
socially "a curiosity." He had no laws or ceremonies regulating
marriage; and if such ties were formed, they were liable to be broken at
any time, by their sale to other and different owners. This rule did
not regulate his moral, economic or political life, for he was not
recognized as a person or citizen, possessing these faculties and
functions. It did not prevent him from worshipping his Creator, but this
was done in an ignorant way, that served more for entertainment and
amusement, than the development of morality and piety.

After the lapse of a half century, he has not yet been wholly
emancipated from these illiterate and low social conditions; but he is
approving and pursuing the better way, as he learns from the Bible,
"what man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of
man."

The Emancipation proclamation thus affected the destiny of more persons
than the Declaration of Independence, and it marks the beginning of the
era of universal freedom; when all the people could unite in saying,
America is the "land of the free," as well as the "home of the brave."
It also effected national unity, by completely removing the one great
cause of previous political dissension. It prepared the way for America
to be the home of a happy and united people, knowing no north or south,
east or west. In these great facts of national importance there are
found good reasons for the annual observance of Emancipation day, as a
legal holiday, as well as the anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence.

XXXVII

THE APIARY

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; which gathereth her food in the
harvest; consider her ways a