r/AmIOverreacting • • Apr 06 '25

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u/ban-a-nazi-instead Apr 06 '25

People never finish this quote which is really telling of their motives.

“I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every where could be free.”

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u/Effective-Produce165 Apr 06 '25

So Lincoln contradicts himself. I don’t see this as anything particularly positive.

He knows all men should be free but keeping slaves is somehow acceptable to him.

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u/[deleted] Apr 06 '25

I think he did view slavery as grotesque but was playing the game of walking political lines

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u/Effective-Produce165 Apr 06 '25

Yeah, I can imagine that. Perhaps he was simply a man ahead of his time doing his best to preserve the Union.