This brief book consists of three essays on Abraham Lincoln. The author seems to think that Lincoln needs to be "redeemed" as if his reputation needs to be restored. Lincoln doesn't need to be redeemed; he just needs to be understood clearly in the context of the middle of the 19th Century. The final word will never be written on our 16th President. Getting right with Lincoln, as David Herbert Donald suggests we should do, is impossible.
As often as Lincoln can be quoted as saying that slavery is wrong, he can be quoted as expressing doubt that white Americans should give to blacks any kind social and political equality. For instance; the Peoria speech on October 16, 1854. P. 67
Opposition to the expansion of slavery into the territories was more for the white man than the black man. Hence, colonization. P. 82
Lincoln was a creature of reason, not empathy, even though he would say that slavery was morally wrong. P. 83
To understand the 19th Century we have to understand the difference in Lincoln's mind between natural rights and political and social rights. P. 89
The author goes thru a long ying/yang on reparations. His conclusion seems to be negative that such a thing could ever happen. P. 92
Toward the end of his life as reflected in the second inaugural, Lincoln seemed to get more religious.
Liberals would say that he showed capacity for growth.
No comments:
Post a Comment