...corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war.... Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would...other would accept war rather than let it perish. Ami the war came. "One-eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally...

...a detached, almost dreamlike manner Lincoln speaks of the "parties" to the war in the third person: "Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would...other would accept war rather than let it perish." Then, suggesting that the war might have had a mysterious cause independent of the will of both parties,...

...seeking to destroy it without war-seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotations. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would...make war rather than let the nation survive, and the would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came. One eight of the population was colored...

...glory and with light.18 Lincoln then began to speak. Here is the core of his Second Inaugural Address: Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would...accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came. . . . Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other....