Tom DiLorenzo on the Lincoln myth

No respectable historian believes the Deep North/government school fantasy that enlightened and morally-superior Northerners elected Abe Lincoln so that they could go to war and die by the hundreds of thousands solely for the benefit of black strangers in the "deep South."

~ Tom DiLorenzo, "A Disease of the Public Mind," Abbeville Blog, March 29, 2017

Abraham Lincoln
Centennial of Birth - 1909

Tom DiLorenzo on the Lincoln myth

Despite being mostly a bundle of lies, [the Lincoln myth] is nevertheless the ideological cornerstone of statism in America and has been for nearly 150 years. The real Lincoln was a dictator and a tyrant who shredded the Constitution, fiendishly orchestrated the mass murder of hundreds of thousands of fellow citizens, and did it all for the economic benefit of the special interests who funded the Republican Party (and his own political career).

~ Tom DiLorenzo, "The Real Lincoln in His Own Words," LewRockwell.com, June 5, 2013

Abraham Lincoln
Centennial of Birth - 1909

Private letter from Abraham Lincoln to Alexander Stephens

Do the people of the South really entertain fears that a Republican administration would, directly, or indirectly, interfere with their slaves, or with them, about their slaves?  If they do, I wish to assure you, as once a friend, and still, I hope, not an enemy, that there is no cause for such fears.

The South would be in no more danger in this respect, than it was in the days of Washington.  I suppose, however, this does not meet the case.  You think slavery is right and ought to be extended; while we think it is wrong and ought to be restricted.  That I suppose is the rub.  It certainly is the only substantial difference between us. 

~ Abraham Lincoln, private letter to Alexander H. Stephens (friend and future vice president of the Confederacy), December 22, 1860

Abraham Lincoln
1873

Robert Morgan on Lincoln's views on slavery and race adjustment

Many Americans think of Abraham Lincoln, above all, as the president who freed the slaves. Immortalized as the "Great Emancipator," he is widely regarded as a champion of black freedom who supported social equality of the races, and who fought the American Civil War (1861-1865) to free the slaves.

While it is true that Lincoln regarded slavery as an evil and harmful institution, it is also true, as this paper will show, that he shared the conviction of most Americans of his time, and of many prominent statesmen before and after him, that blacks could not be assimilated into white society. He rejected the notion of social equality of the races, and held to the view that blacks should be resettled abroad. As President, he supported projects to remove blacks from the United States.

~ Robert Morgan, "Abraham Lincoln's Program of Black Resettlement," The Journal of Historical Review, Sept.-Oct. 1993 (Vol. 13, No. 5), pages 4-25

Abraham Lincoln
1867

Abraham Lincoln on interfering with slavery in the South

I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.

~ Abraham Lincoln, inaugural address, March 4, 1861

Abraham Lincoln
1869

Andrew Napolitano on Abraham Lincoln

In order to increase his federalist vision of centralized power, 'Honest’ Abe misled the nation into an unnecessary war... With very little regard for honesty, Lincoln increased federal power and assaulted the Constitution. His actions were unconstitutional, and he knew it... Lincoln’s view was a far departure from the approach of Thomas Jefferson, who recognized states’ rights above those of the Union... Lincoln increased the power of the federal government at the expense of the rights of the states and civil liberties. This opened the door to more unconstitutional acts by the government in the 1900s through to today...

~ Judge Andrew Napolitano, The Constitution in Exile, Chapter 4: "Dishonest Abe: The Lincoln You Didn't Know"

Abraham Lincoln
1922-1925

Lincoln on the role of education in molding servile citizens

Education does not mean teaching people what they do not know. It means teaching them to behave as they do not behave.

~ Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln
1965-1968

Letter to Lincoln: "Our republican system was meant for a homogeneous people"

Our republican system was meant for a homogeneous people. As long as blacks continue to live with the whites they constitute a threat to the national life. Family life may also collapse and the increase of mixed breed bastards may some day challenge the supremacy of the white man.

~ Reverend James Mitchell of Indiana, later appointed Commissioner of Emigration, presented Lincoln with additional reasons why the Negroes should be colonized, May 15, 1862

Lincoln Memorial
1922-1925

Abraham Lincoln on invading the South

[W]e denounce the lawless invasion by armed force of the soil of any State or Territory, no matter what pretext, as among the gravest of crimes.

~ Abraham Lincoln, inaugural address, March 4, 1861

(Lincoln's pledge was broken within a month.)

Credo - Lincoln
1960-1961

Hornberger on why Lincoln waged war

From the first grade in every public school in America, students are taught that the reason that Abraham Lincoln waged war against the South was to free the slaves. If only it were so! At the inception of the war, Lincoln himself repeatedly emphasized that it was secession, not slavery, that drove him to wage war against the Confederate states: "We must settle this question now, whether in a free government the minority have the right to break up the government whenever they choose."

~ Jacob G. Hornberger, president, The Future of Freedom Foundation, "Should Old Glory Fly over the Capitol?," January 2000

Statue of Lincoln
1957

Lincoln on character

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.

~ Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president

Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)
1938

Lincoln on racial segregation

I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races - that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, not to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race. I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything.

~ Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president, Fourth Debate with Stephen A. Douglas at Charleston, Illinois, September 18, 1858

Lincoln-Douglas Debates
1858-1958