Abraham Lincoln's Cardinal Traits: A Study in Ethics, with an Epilogue Addressed to TheologiansR.G. Badger, 1914 - 244 pages |
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affirmations alike appeal argument awful beauty beneath cern charity civic clear coln's confession conscious debate deeds deep dignity discerning divine elemental enduring equal equity eternal ethics evermore face faith fellowmen fellowship forever freedom freemen friendliness God's Godlike heart held honest honor hope human humble humility ideal immortal Independence Hall integrity inwrought judgment kindliness land last inaugural liberty Lincoln's character Lincoln's mind Lincoln's moral Lincoln's personality living lowliness loyalty majesty malice manhood meek ment mental mighty Missouri Compromise moral universe ness never oath Parthenon patience peace perfect plain political pondering predestined problem problem of evil pure purity qualities realm rebuke reverence righteousness scene secession second inaugural sentiments slave slavery solid South sorrows soul of Lincoln sovereign speech stands stood supreme sure theme theodicy things thought Thurlow Weed tion toil transcendent true truly truth Union verity voice wisdom words wrong
Popular passages
Page 15 - I hold, that in contemplation of universal law, and of the Constitution, the Union of these states is perpetual. Perpetuity is implied, if not expressed, in the fundamental law of all national governments. It is safe to assert that no government proper, ever had a provision in its organic law for its own termination.
Page 76 - Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said : " The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Page 147 - In giving freedom to the slave we assure freedom to the free — honorable alike in what we give and what we preserve. We shall nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth.
Page 16 - Plainly the central idea of secession is the essence of anarchy. A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people.
Page 241 - If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of...
Page 240 - At this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed very fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented.
Page 164 - I expect the latter to wear as well as — perhaps better than — anything I have produced ; but I believe it is not immediately popular. Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a difference of purpose between the Almighty and them. To deny it, however, in this case, is to deny that there is a God governing the world.
Page 98 - Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new, North as well as South.
Page 17 - Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world? In our present differences is either party without faith of being in the right? If the Almighty Ruler of Nations, with his eternal truth and justice, be on your side of the North, or on yours of the South, that truth and that justice will surely prevail by the judgment of this great tribunal of the American people.
Page 141 - On the side of the Union it is a struggle for maintaining in the world that form and substance of Government whose leading object is to elevate the condition of men ; to lift artificial weights from all shoulders ; to clear the paths of laudable pursuit for all; to afford all an unfettered start and a fair chance in the race of life.