Lincoln as a president after the war was probably exhausted. He had led his country through war against their fellow countrymen and brought them out the other side. This event probably defined the rest of his life as he struggled with it. Guezlo writes, "toward the larger, more haunting, question of the war's meaning"(415). He is wise enough to realize the war is not close to being over. The bottom half of the country hates his guts, and he has to somehow convince them to reunite. Much like World War 2, Lincoln knew he had to lay the blame on everybody, so as not to cause resentment. Guezlo writes "The north and South were to be weighed and judged in spite of the seeming moral superiority of slavery's opponents"(418). He continue to make the right decision and follow his own guidance, as the evils of the world try and drag him down to their level. This perserverance of true ideals is why he is celebrated today.
This transformation was speeded up by his untimely death. After he got assasinated by John Wilkes Booth he quickly aquired the sympathy of the entire country. He was eulogized as " one of the most faultless examples of true manhood even prominently exhibited to the world"(440). This beautiful speech speaks wonders of how the country had grown to love and honor the president who had led the country to war. They realize that he did make the right decisions, and so they recognized it. Insterestingly, " And almost irresitably, he was compared to Jesus Christ"(440). This claim is truly remarkable, and made even more so by the fact we were a very Christian nation. They had elevated him to the highest statues they could think of, as they thought he truly belonged on the highest pedestal out there.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Lincoln Further Endures the Civil War
One of the most amazing parts about Lincoln, was how he deliberated carefully over each decision he made. This careful thinking allowed him to weigh both sides of the argument, bringing reason to a country that was sorely in need of it. Orville Browning, a senator, remarked "he was thinking deeply of what a higher power than sought to bring about by the great events then transpiring"(Guezlo 325). Lincoln appears to have turned to God as he realized the bloodshed and carnage that came with the war. One often thinks of distressed, diseased, individuals turning to God as their last hope, but this was different. He worries so much about his country he is able reconcile with God. Lincoln writes, "God could give the final victoy to either side any day, yet he has not"(327). He feels that God is powerless, and unable to help him, when he obviously should be. This obviously causes great stress within him, because the almighty seems to unable to do anything.
Easily one of the most famous parts of Lincoln's career was The Emancipation Proclimation. Freeing the slaves was symbollic for the civil war, and is now widely regarded as one of the most glorious parts of his presidency. However, he was unsure of how it would turn. He remarked that he knew it "was right" but "feared the effects upon the border states"(352). He is no fool, and we can see he obviously thinks through this decision, and decided to make the right choice. It was a risky gamble, as his position in the war was shaky, but he had to do what he believe to be the true decision. Maybe the only reason why he stayed on as president was his brilliant campaigning mind. The author writes "a large part of that poplarity grew out of the skill with which Lincoln himself managed the newspapers"(365). He realized that the rigth choices are not always going to make you celebrated and sometimes you have to know how to work the system, and not be upset if it works in a different way. You must adapt to the circumstances.
Easily one of the most famous parts of Lincoln's career was The Emancipation Proclimation. Freeing the slaves was symbollic for the civil war, and is now widely regarded as one of the most glorious parts of his presidency. However, he was unsure of how it would turn. He remarked that he knew it "was right" but "feared the effects upon the border states"(352). He is no fool, and we can see he obviously thinks through this decision, and decided to make the right choice. It was a risky gamble, as his position in the war was shaky, but he had to do what he believe to be the true decision. Maybe the only reason why he stayed on as president was his brilliant campaigning mind. The author writes "a large part of that poplarity grew out of the skill with which Lincoln himself managed the newspapers"(365). He realized that the rigth choices are not always going to make you celebrated and sometimes you have to know how to work the system, and not be upset if it works in a different way. You must adapt to the circumstances.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Abraham Lincoln and his Rise to the Presidency
The one aspect we are all familiar when it comes to Abraham Lincoln, is that he was one of the most successful presidents in US history. What some may not know, is that it was almost accidental, and it was an extremely surprising event that he even got nominated by the Republican party. Lincoln himself say he accepted the nomination because it was "thrown upon him and he considered it was my duty"(246). This shows how Lincoln had greatness thrust upon him, much like the classic hero in the timeless hero-quest pattern. While this might seem to be a typical political statement of false humility, it was acknowledged that everyone in the country was "equally curious, not to say puzzled and apprehensive, about Lincoln"(246). He was a relative unknown, which further emphasized his humble origins, and sudden rise to greatness. He was not a lifetime senate member, running for election because he knew he had connections with the people in control. This is the classic American ideal of rising above your current status through hard work and diligence, and what better person to embody it than the President of America.
What is also an interesting truth about Lincoln that they bring up was his famous cabinet full of his political rivals. This was a revolutionary idea in its own concept as it meant stocking your office with people who actively disagreed with you. However, he may not have listened to his enemies as much as he has been given credit for. One of his cabinet member is quoted as saying "he never consulted his cabinet. He said they all disagreed so much he would not ask them -- he depended on himself -- always"(274). So for Lincoln's code of ethics he was trying to follow himself, and there was little room for outside opinion. This makes Lincoln seem much more temperamental and more following what he believed as compared to what was truly the right thing to do at the time. Another thing that may blemish Lincoln's perfect record would be his famous authorization "to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus for the public safety"(280). This was done to prevent Maryland from seceding to the South and while that may have seemed paramount at the time, it now seems like a tarnish on someone who was supposed to defend freedom. It supports the idea that Lincoln was not perfect, but someone who had to make rash decisions without knowing all the information. This just means he was a human, and we can not let this one small incidence scar our image of him.
What is also an interesting truth about Lincoln that they bring up was his famous cabinet full of his political rivals. This was a revolutionary idea in its own concept as it meant stocking your office with people who actively disagreed with you. However, he may not have listened to his enemies as much as he has been given credit for. One of his cabinet member is quoted as saying "he never consulted his cabinet. He said they all disagreed so much he would not ask them -- he depended on himself -- always"(274). So for Lincoln's code of ethics he was trying to follow himself, and there was little room for outside opinion. This makes Lincoln seem much more temperamental and more following what he believed as compared to what was truly the right thing to do at the time. Another thing that may blemish Lincoln's perfect record would be his famous authorization "to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus for the public safety"(280). This was done to prevent Maryland from seceding to the South and while that may have seemed paramount at the time, it now seems like a tarnish on someone who was supposed to defend freedom. It supports the idea that Lincoln was not perfect, but someone who had to make rash decisions without knowing all the information. This just means he was a human, and we can not let this one small incidence scar our image of him.
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