Lincoln's Legacy for the Just

In President Lincoln's second inaugural speech he not only addresses the horrors and causes of the Civil War but also that he has "high hopes for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured" (1372). Lincoln mainly focuses on slavery, which was the main cause for the Civil War. Although neither side wanted a war, they would rather let the nation fall apart than to compromise or make progress as a whole, so a war was started. He says that the colored people "both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other" (1372). Lincoln was a man of immense knowledge and wisdom. He has incredible insight and really was a man far beyond his time. He had the perfect vision of the American Dream- a place where all men are equal in a country that is united and powerful. He said that if everything that God does, there is a purpose behind it, then the act of slavery in America is deserving for the grave punishment of the Civil War. Quoted from Psalms 19:9, Lincoln says "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether" (1373). America must come together, and finish the hardships they are given, and then rebuild a nation by caring for any man, wife or child or even your enemy if they want to be a strong and powerful nation once again. Similarly, William Cullen Bryant's poem "The Death of Lincoln" reiterates the nobleness of Lincoln and how influential he was, and still is today. Bryant writes about the funeral of the President, he commemorates Lincoln by saying his "proudest monument shall be/The broken fetters of the slaves" (1381).  Ironically, the assassination of Lincoln was only a month after he delivered his inaugural speech in March of 1865. In this poem you can see the deep emotion and sadness that not only Bryant felt, but how the whole nation was in mourning. Bryant clearly was inspired and influenced by Lincoln and all that he had done for America during his time in office. He says that Lincoln "perished in the cause of Right" (1381). This really realtes to Lincoln's morals, which were clearly stated in his inaugural speech and portrayed in his vision of the American dream. Although both writings are very inspirational, I think that Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address would have been more persuasive at that time. In his speech he not only discusses the Civil War and how it was a horrific time in our country's history- but how it is a time to come together as a nation, rebuild and become even stronger.