Lincoln's greatness stems in part from his ability to summarize a difficult and complex problem in terms that everybody can understand. The power of his prose is demonstrated in the following two passages on equal opportunity.
On October 15, 1858, in his seventh and last debate with Stephen Douglas, Abraham Lincoln drew an analogy between black freedom and American Independence from the English monarchy:
That is the real issue. That is the issue that will continue in this country when these poor tongues of Judge Douglas and myself shall be silent. It is the eternal struggle between these two principles—right and wrong—throughout the world. They are the two principles that have stood face to face from the beginning of time; and will ever continue to struggle. The one is the common right of humanity and the other the divine right of kings. It is the same principle in whatever shape it develops itself. It is the same spirit that says, "You work and toil and earn bread, and I'll eat it." No matter in what shape it comes, whether from the mouth of a king who seeks to bestride the people of his own nation and live by the fruit of their labor, or from one race of men as an apology for enslaving another race, it is the same tyrannical principle.
This reminded Lincoln's listeners of the significance of the statement in the Declaration that "all men are created equal," and it was intended to persuade them that this was true for the black no less than the white.
Six years later, during the darkest days of the Civil War - Sherman was stalled at the gates of Atlanta, and Grant was suffering appalling losses on the approach to Richmond – Lincoln returned to this theme. He was addressing the 166th Ohio Regiment that was returning home, and he sought to remind them and the Nation why it was so important for the United States to win this war. He said:
I suppose you are going home to see your families and friends. For the service you have done in this great struggle in which we are engaged I present you sincere thanks for myself and the country. I almost always feel inclined, when I happen to say anything to soldiers, to impress upon them in a few brief remarks the importance of success in this contest. It is not merely for to-day, but for all time to come that we should perpetuate for our children's children this great and free government, which we have enjoyed all our lives. I beg you to remember this, not merely for my sake, but for yours. 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—not only for one, but for two or three years. The nation is worth fighting for, to secure such an inestimable jewel.
People of every political persuasion and every race and color and nationality, people around the world, are excited about Barack Obama's inauguration as President today – his ascension to that big white house - because it means that each of us and all of our children stand an equal chance in the race of life.
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Christopher,
From the reading, I am not at all certain that Prof. Huhn is comparing Abe & 44…(Though many have and are).
I got: That 44's assention to the Presidency is further proof of Abe's assertion the "it is (or should be), possible for all".
And you are correct that, as Commander and Chief, they have little to nothing incommon so far.
As men who've risen to the Presidency, there are similarities…But perhaps more importantly, 44 is a student of Abe, inspired by and very respectful of him as well.