Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address: March 4, 1865
Forty-one days before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln delivered his Second Inaugural Address. Noted as being the shortest inaugural speech, Lincoln spoke very briefly and very solemnly. Carl Sandburg described the speech as being “the great American poem.” Historian Ronald C. White wrote, “Lincoln had defined the signposts toward winning the peace by achieving reconciliation. In this final paragraph, he declared that the true test of the aims of the war would be how we now treated those who have been defeated. If enmity continued after hostilities ceased, the war would have been in vain.” It was not the speech that the public had expected. Rather than focus on the victory of winning the Civil War, Lincoln turned inward and appeared to share his innermost beliefs. He called for both the North and the South to take responsibility for what had occurred. He referred to a deity over a dozen times, resulting in many historians referring to the speech as a sermon, which, as White notes, seemed to be how it was received for the audience assembled that day.
When looking at the speech as poetry, the biblical allusions definitely stand out. The speech, however, also uses alliteration, repetition, and parallel structure. It can be converted very easily into “Found poetry.” (Note Anthony Bergen’s example of “Found Poetry Experiment: Lincoln’s Second Inaugural.”) Much of the writing has a strong metrical sense and rhythm to it. Source: Ronald C. White, Jr., Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural, New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002. |
Original SpeechFellow Countrymen:
At this second appearing to take the oath of the presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement, somewhat in detail, of a course to be pursued, seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention, and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself; and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured. On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil-war. All dreaded it---all sought to avert it. While the inaugeral address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war---seeking to dissolve the Union, and divide effects, by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came. One eighth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part of it. These slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful interest. All knew that this interest was, somehow, the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate, and extend this interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union, even by war; while the government claimed no right to do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. Each looked for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men's faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes. “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 which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South, this terrible war, as the woe due to those by whom the offence came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope---fervently do we pray---that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether.” 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 a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations. Source: House Divided: Dickinson College |
"Found poetry"All dreaded it
All sought to avert it Both parties deprecated war One would make war Rather than let the nation survive One would accept war Rather than let it perish And the war came Neither party anticipated That the cause of the conflict might cease With or even before The conflict itself should cease Both read the same Bible Pray to the same God Each invokes His aid against the other It may seem strange That any men should dare to ask A just God’s assistance In wringing their bread from the sweat Of other men’s faces Let us judge not That we be not judged Woe unto the world because of offenses! For it must needs be that offenses come Woe to that man by whom the offense cometh American slavery is one of the offenses Which must needs come Fondly do we hope Fervently do we pray That this mighty scourge of war May speedily pass away If two hundred fifty years of unrequited toil Shall be sunk Until every drop of blood drawn with the lash Shall be paid By another drawn with the sword It must be said: The judgments are true and righteous With malice toward none With charity for all With firmness in the right As God gives us to see the right Let us strive Finish the work we are in Let us strive Bind up the nation’s wounds Let us strive Care for him who born the battle For his widow For his orphan Let us strive to do all Let us strive to achieve Let us cherish A just and lasting peace Among ourselves and with all nations. Source: Bergen: Found Poetry Experiment Additional commentary |