Was Lincoln a Socialist?

1. 68

   Charles Jamesposted 13 years ago

   I have always been surprised that the party which liberated the slaves, the Republicans,does not havre a significant black vote, yet the Democrats who were prepared to accept the continuation of slavery gain the majority of black votes. I assume there are historical reasons for this oddity.
   
   Now I have come across a quote from LIncoln where he sounds like a socialist!
   
   Speaking to an Ohio regiment returning home after three years of fighting he said
   
   "I happen temporarily to occupy this big White House."
   
   "I am a living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father's child has. It is in order that each of you may have through this free government which we have enjoyed, an open field and a fair chance for your industry, enterprise and intelligence; that you may all have equal privileges in the race of life, with all its desirable human aspirations. It is for this the struggle should be maintained, that we may not lose our birthright..."

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      Sooner28posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      There actually is a lot of speculation that he may have been.  However, the current GOP is far away from Lincoln.  He was a regular reader of the New York Tribune http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New-York_Tribune, which Karl Marx actually contributed to on a regular basis!
      
      Even if he wasn't a full blown socialist, it would make him pretty far left for sure.  Oh how the GOP has changed...
      
      Here is a letter to Horace Greeley- http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative … eeley.htm.  It does promote cynicism though, because Lincoln states his main goal is to save the Union, even if it meant preserving slavery.

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   2. 61

      Josakposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Not sure whether he was a socialist but he was certainly pretty far left. Ignore Evan I am sure h is one of those who will tell you the civil war had nothing to do with slavery

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   3. 0

      Onusonusposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I could see how a liberal would interpret the wording as a liberal idea but the truth is that he was a conservative who believed in the God granted right to individual freedom vise slavery that was spoken of in the declaration of independence. And that "all men are created equal" meant that everyone had the legal right to pursue happiness according to their own desires.

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         Sooner28posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Evidence please.

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2. 59

   Evan G Rogersposted 13 years ago

   Lincoln was a tyrant. The fact that his 30 foot tall image exists is a disgrace to this country's Constitution.
   
   If you wish to learn more about the absolutely horrible things he did, there are numerous books you can read
   
   "The Real Lincoln" is a good one, and so is "Lincoln Unmasked"

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