In the united states now, we read about how we are divided as a country and how there are neighbors versus neighbor, community verse communities, Republicans verse Democrats, and on and on. We often ask ourselves, who might be a model and turn to for giving us advice on unity. I am going to recommend to you that we look at the words and actions of Abraham Lincoln universally considered our greatest president.
Abe was nominated to run for a senate seat in Illinois. In giving his acceptance speech, he talked about a house divided against itself cannot stand. At that time, he was strongly opposed to the spread of slavery. Because of the position of the southern states and his desire to keep a United States of America, he was willing at that time to leave slavery alone in the South because he felt it would surely die away. His pronouncements on it personally and individually were that it was an evil, but again, in order to keep the country the united, he was willing to make a tremendous compromise that they could keep the slaves if the South did not break the union. Then of course, he in speaking against the spread of slavery, talked about that, “Let us have faith that right makes right”. We look at those words and realize that Abraham Lincoln was a very principled, moral, strong man and tremendous speaker. He could move his audiences with his words and language. What kinds of words and languages did he use? After he was elected in his first inaugural speech, he said we are not enemies but friends.
“We must not be enemies though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearth stone all over this broad land will yet swell the chorus of this union when again touched as surely they will be by the better angels of our nature.”
Many use that term, “the better nature angels of our nature” but he meant it. He was calling on the country to unify despite differences and that is a call we need to hear echoing from the words of Abraham Lincoln today. The better angels of our nature. We are not enemies but friends. We all need to remember those soaring, majestic words. Of course, some did not believe in that. A war began. The Union, under Abraham Lincoln’s leadership won the war and we called the principal insurgent army surrendered to General Grant. What did Lincoln do in victory? In his second inaugural, he said this:
“With malice towards none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us the right to see the light.”
What wonderful language for these times? With charity for all, with malice towards none. He spoke about the vanquished, those who had waged war essentially against him and his beliefs, but he forgave. In fact, his instructed General Grant, with regard of what to do with the vanquished army. Send them home back to their jobs and farms. He was asked and was recommended by some to hang the confederate officers, whom he considered traitors. He said no. It is over. With malice towards none and charity for all. Let us look at our neighbors and wake up, all of us tomorrow morning. Look out across the yards, whatever political signs you see. Think, believe, and live the words of Abraham Lincoln. With malice towards none and charity for all.
