What Abraham Lincoln Means To Me

Yes, today is Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday.  That is a given, and I am sure you will read about it in today’s newspapers, blogs and magazines.  So I thought about what I might contribute, on this historic day, that would not duplicate the plethora of information you will have already read.  After several days of thought, I decided, early this morning, that I would simply tell you what Abraham Lincoln means to me.

As a native of Central Illinois, I was surrounded by reminders, that Abraham Lincoln was Illinois’ favorite adopted son (Kentucky considers him their native son).  As a small child, I can distinctly remember my grandparents taking me to Lincoln’s New Salem State Park.  While I enjoyed getting away, with my grandparents, I do not remember feeling any sense of astonishment that Lincoln had walked the streets of New Salem, or wrestled with the Clary boys nearby.  I do recall thinking it was odd that he was called the “rail splitter.”  Throughout my early education, and high school, I was typically very bored with American History.  In fact, during my high school years, I remember having trouble staying awake in Mr. Lowery’s history lectures, at times nodding off.  To be fair, Mr. Lowery was a good teacher.  The problem was that history class fell right after lunch.  Having a full stomach, and listening to a lecture, on a subject that does not interest you, is a great sedative.

In my young adulthood, I would move only 25 minutes from Springfield, Illinois, to the small community of Jacksonville – a town that Lincoln would often visit and would deliver a speech at, in 1856.  Being in sales, at that time, I would drive all over Springfield.  I would see all the signs for the historic Lincoln sites: Lincoln’s Home, The Old State Capital, the Lincoln Herndon Law Offices and Lincoln’s tomb.  Unfortunately, I missed some great opportunities to learn about our 16th President. 

This changed when I was about 30.  For reasons unknown to me, I picked up “Jefferson The Virginian” by Dumas Malone.  Before I had completed the book, I was hooked.  Hooked on history – specifically the history of the founding of our country.  Since then, I have read all but the last of Malone’s huge history of Jefferson.  While I own that book, “The Sage of Monticello,” I am saving it for an unknown special occasion – I guess I just don’t want to finish it.  Over the next several months, I would devour all the books I could find on our Founding Fathers, and the War of the Revolution.  I had many friends tell me that I should read something about the Civil War – or perhaps Abraham Lincoln.  By chance, I located a complete 1st Edition of Carl Sandburg’s massive Lincoln biography, The Prairie Years (2 volumes) and the War Years (4 volumes).  Between Sanburg’s prose, and the picture he painted, with words, of Lincoln, I became fascinated with Lincoln, and the American Civil War.  Since then, I have read so many books on these subjects, that I have lost count.  I do know that I have several large bookcases, all around seven foot tall, and they contain my collection.  As I have run out of room, I have doubled the books on the shelves, by placing books in front of other books.  Unfortunately, that will no longer work as I have filled the shelves two, and possibly three deep.  Trying to avoid the inevitable purchase, of more nice book shelves, I have resorted to stacking books on top of the books, until they are touching the shelve above them.  I guess I am a true book worm.  Laura, my wife, encourages me to get rid of some of them.  I just can’t part with any of them – I may want to re-read one them – someday.

I now have devoted around 16 years to studying Lincoln, and his War.  Studying this period is now the favorite thing I do.  Only one other passion holds a similar lock on my time – playing music, specifically Americana music on acoustic guitar.

I digress.  I was going to tell you what Lincoln means to me.  Well here goes.  Lincoln symbolizes freedom to me.  He was able to escape the chains of poverty, teach himself to read, survey and eventually to practice law.  He is the ultimate example that a person can be whatever they want to be, in the United States.  While Lincoln was modest, he was extremely ambitious.  He wanted to leave his mark on society, so he would be remembered, after he died.  His written word mesmerizes me.  His speeches entrance me; the way he assembles the words to roll off the tongue, effortlessly and with a beautiful flow.  I love Lincoln’s humor.  He could tell the funniest stories, tying them back to something in the present.  He was a master of these parables.  Lincoln is America, and we all have reason to be proud that he was our president – he gave us a “true birth of freedom.”  He would die to save the Union, and free the slaves.  He would become a martyr for personal freedom a position he still holds today.  Personally, he helped me discover things about myself; my weaknesses, my strengths and that I can do anything I set out to do.  He freed me, by removing the invisible restraints I had placed upon myself.  He is a true American hero, and rightfully deserves the place he has earned in American History.

I would like to close, by sharing some of my favorite Lincoln quotes.  Because he is so quotable, I am certain that tomorrow I will have new favorites.

“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.” ~ Abraham Lincoln’s Cooper Union Speech, February 27, 1860

“I claim not to have controlled events, but confess plainly that events have controlled me.” ~ Lincoln’s letter to Albert Hodges, April 4, 1864

“In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free – honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve.  We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope on earth.” ~ Lincoln’s Second Annual Message to Congress, December 1, 1862

“Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.” ~ Lincoln’s speech to the 140th Indiana Infantry regiment

“The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion.  As our case in new, so we must think anew, and act anew.  We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country.” ~ Lincoln’s Second Annual Message to Congress, December 1, 1862

“I have stepped out upon this platform that I may see you and that you may see me, and in the arrangement I have the best of the bargain.” ~ Lincoln’s remarks at Painesville, Ohio, February 16, 1861

“The will of God prevails.  In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God.  Both may be, and one must be wrong.  God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time.  In the present civil war it is quite possible that God’s purpose is something different from the purpose of either party – and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are the best adaption to effect His purpose.”~ Lincoln’s “Meditation on the Divine Will,” undated but presumed to be from early September 1862, after the Union defeat at Second Manassas

“You think slavery is right and should be extended; while we think slavery is wrong and ought to be restricted.  That I suppose, is the rub.  It certainly is the only substantial difference between us.” ~ Lincoln’s letter to Alexander H. Stephens, December 22, 1860

“If General McClellan isn’t going to use his army, I’d like to borrow it for a time.” ~ Abraham Lincoln on McClellan’s snail paced movements.

“But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate – we cannot consecrate – we cannot hallow – this ground.  The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.” ~ Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863

“…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” ~ Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863

“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan – to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.” ~ Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

Thank you Abraham Lincoln – and happy 200th birthday!  May God bless this great country that you strived so diligently to preserve.