Emancipation came to the colored race in America as a war measure. It was an act of military necessity. Manifestly it would have come without war, in the slower process of humanitarian reform and social enlightenment.

Summary

This quote suggests that the end of slavery for the colored race in America, also known as emancipation, was primarily brought about as a result of the Civil War. It emphasizes that it was a military necessity rather than simply an act of humanitarian reform or societal enlightenment. The quote implies that if there had not been a war, emancipation would have eventually occurred through slower processes involving social progress and a growing recognition of the need for humanitarian changes.

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