The Purpose Is What Has Endured
"Today we've had a national tragedy." President George W. Bush spoke these words after a horrendous attack on America. As we watched bombs fly into steel and then explode, we waited to hear the advice and comfort our President would give to us. One hundred thirty-seven years ago, President Abraham Lincoln experienced a similar "national tragedy" for a duration of four years. Lincoln's second inaugural address had to provide the United States of America with similar advice and comfort near the end of a civil war. After four years of this gory civil war, Lincoln was re-elected for the presidency of the United States. When he wrote his speech, Lincoln must have though about the past four years. The southern states had formed the Confederate States of America; a civil war had begun, and the nation had erupted in turmoil. He knew that the North wanted a harsh punishment for the southern stat
" To bring back the Southern support for the Union he recognized the similarities between the two groups, thus showing both sides how similar they really are. "'Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!' If we shall suppose that American Slavery is one of those offences. es, but he also knew that this was one reason why the South did not like the North. ," here we see Lincoln placing blame where it belongs without directly pointing the finger at one side or the other. Lincoln also shows the similarities between the two sides in the passage, "Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. tells us that, "Lincoln offered his sermon as the prism through which he himself strained to see the light of God. " (75) He had to unify the country in one speech, and this was his only chance. As Lincoln's pen starts to form the words, "With malice toward none; with charity for all;. The most seasoned analyzer could not put into words what Lincoln's exact purpose is. Lincoln had to change the hearts of his people, and as William H.
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Acceptance Essays
