Gibson Mill in Calderdale, a few miles northeast of Manchester. Lincoln was deeply moved by cotton workers’ gesture, as was Carl Shurz, Union major-general and subsequently a Republican Party senator. “Do you remember the touching address of the workingmen of Manchester?” he asked in a speech in Brooklyn, New York, on October 7th, 1864. “The English laborer stretched his hard hand across the Atlantic to grasp that of our President, and he said: ‘Although want and misery may knock at my doors, mind it not. I may suffer, but be you firm! Let the slave be free. All hail, American people! we are your brothers!’”
Introduction
Washington’s embargoes on cotton from the American South during the Civil War (1861-1865) hit the British cotton industry hard. Nonetheless, on New Year’s Eve, 1862, the day before the historic Emancipation Proclamation took effect, workers defied scare-mongering politicians and journalists to gather in Manchester’s Free Trade Hall, and pledge their support to Abraham Lincoln. On January 19th, he replied.
I KNOW and deeply deplore the sufferings which the working men at Manchester and in all Europe are called to endure in this crisis.* It has been often and studiously represented that the attempt to overthrow this Government which was built on the foundation of human rights, and to substitute for it one which should rest exclusively on the basis of slavery, was likely to obtain the favour of Europe. Through the action of disloyal citizens, the working men of Europe have been subjected to a severe trial for the purpose of forcing their sanction to that attempt. Under these circumstances I cannot but regard your decisive utterances upon the question as an instance of sublime Christian heroism which has not been surpassed in any age or in any country.
Extract
Taken from Abraham Lincoln’s letter as given in ‘Manchester and Abraham Lincoln: a side-light on an earlier fight for freedom’ (1900) by F. Hourani.
* For an extract from the cotton workers’ letter, see A Letter to the President.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
Replying to a letter from Manchester’s cotton workers, who had backed the Union in the American Civil War of 1961-65, President Lincoln acknowledged that the fight against slavery was costing British industry dear. But the support of England’s working men moved him deeply, and he declared that never had any nation set a better example of Christian heroism. (58 / 60 words)
Replying to a letter from Manchester’s cotton workers, who had backed the Union in the American Civil War of 1961-65, President Lincoln acknowledged that the fight against slavery was costing British industry dear. But the support of England’s working men moved him deeply, and he declared that never had any nation set a better example of Christian heroism.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, because, besides, despite, must, otherwise, since, whereas.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Cannot. Crisis. Through.
2 Force. Surpass. Work.
3 Age. Attempt. Sublime.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
By.
Through.
2.
Decided.
Decisive.
3.
Endure.
Undergo.
4.
Me.
I.
5.
Restive.
Restful.
6.
Right.
Obligation.
7.
Rigorous.
Severe.
8.
Shall.
Should.
9.
Your.
You’re.
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Purpose. 2 Obtain. 3 Attempt. 4 Force. 5 Call. 6 Represent. 7 Age. 8 Rest. 9 Work.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
x
0
Add
Your Words ()
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