President Lincoln deserves every bit of recognition he gained. He was a true patriot and hero! But many in our culture would love to forget that the Civil War was primarily about slavery.
Psueo-intellectualls can sit in their comfy chairs and say, well, "Don't forget about those people who fought for state's right's" as if that explains why the Confederates left the Union.
First off, didn't say only reason. Slavery was the primary reason, but there were others, including anarchy and not wanting to pay federal taxes. But Slavery was the reason why they left. What right was so cruelly broken, that the Confederate States must leave the union? Their right to their property - slaves. They saw they as part of their economy. Without them, the South figured it would collapse.
So, history is indeed complex, but the point is that America, lead by Republican Abraham Lincoln, fought a savage war against the Confederacy. Lincoln, himself, considered the war to be about slavery just as much as it was about the Union.
An estimated 350,000 Union Troops died in the Civil War. A large percentage of the population of the North at the time.
Do you think Abraham Lincoln tossed and turned at night because of that? For four long years, he sent off all those young boys and men to fight. He was responsible for their deaths. His opponents blasted him day after day, including those in the North who wanted peace.
But Abraham Lincoln stayed true. He knew what he was doing was right.
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 bond-man'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."
Second Inaugural Address on March 4, 1865 (CWAL VIII:333)
When Lee was nearly cornered outside Richmond, given the choice by Grant, Lincoln said to press him. And so they did. Grant lead a pincher movement to capture Lee's forces and it worked. Lee was forced to surrender and the United States was whole again.
The lesson here is that Abraham Lincoln's staying true was key. He had confidence in what he was doing was right. He had the confidence that you have to fight for what is right - even if that means you are hated and vilified.
In fact, the more you are hate and vilified by the wrong people, the more you must be doing something right.
