Question About Lincolns Inaugural Address

18611096

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Lincoln said

"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."


Is Lincoln here saying God will operate through the American people? or that the American people will correctly determine God's "truth" and "justice" on this matter.?

Thanks.
 

jgoodguy

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Lincoln said

"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."


Is Lincoln here saying God will operate through the American people? or that the American people will correctly determine God's "truth" and "justice" on this matter.?

Thanks.
He is saying God's will be done, He will choose one or the other side and Lincoln figures God is on the side of the Union which will be the instrument of God's judgment.
 

18611096

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He is saying God's will be done, He will choose one or the other side and Lincoln figures God is on the side of the Union which will be the instrument of God's judgment.
Ok so he is just saying god will be on the side of the right, and Lincoln believes that to be the side of the North. And the side God is on will come out on top.

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jgoodguy

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I think its actually a call for faith in democracy. The presidential election was the decision of the "great tribunal of the American people."
That was a big part of why the North fought. Will the great experiment started by the 1776 patriots survive?
 

5fish

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Lincoln's first inaugural address provoked the war...

Abe Lincoln did provoke the southern leaders into committing following acts of insurrection, secession and war.

President Lincoln reinforces this view(of weakness) with his first inaugural address where he tries to appease the leaders of the insurrection. This act appeasement reinforced Southern leaders view he was weak and fueled the fires of the insurrection that will lead to war.

I argue again:

Abe Lincolns act of appeasement(show of weakness) to leaders of the insurrection only provoked the leaders to increase their demands and set our nation toward civil war.

If only Lincoln had followed the precedents set by Washington and Jackson and forcefully rejected the insurrection demands and show resolve the war might never had happen.

It was Lincoln's appeasement to the Southern slavers, like England's appeasement to Hitler, fueled the Civil war as it fueled WWII.

Appeasement was the true provokator of the Civil War!!
 

18611096

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I believe Davis held the same position.
I don't remember where I heard it [or if it is legit] but someone asked Lincoln to pray that God would be on their side because Southerners were doing the same. Lincoln replied something like don't pray he is on our side, pray we are on his side.
 

diane

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I think this was a more structured repeat of what he had said in 1862, which was noted by John Hay. It's found in this link:


Lincoln believed God may or may not be on one side or the other, but that the war was the means by which he intended it to be settled. I believe Lincoln's religious upbringing was Baptist, and there is a mixture of predetermination and free will in that faith. In Hay's example, Lincoln seemed to feel that God had determined to use the resolution man had selected to bring about his will.
 
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