Abraham Lincoln on the Know-Nothings:

I am not a Know-Nothing. That is certain. How could I be? How can any one who abhors the oppression of negroes, be in favor of degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we began by declaring that “all men are created equal.” We now practically read it “all men are created equal, except negroes.” When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read “all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics.” When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty — to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be take pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy.

6 thoughts on “Abraham Lincoln on the Know-Nothings:”

  1. The know nothings fragmented before the War for Southern Independence over the issue of slavery.Lincoln has been quoted as thinking blacks were inferior to whites in the Lincoln Douglas debates.Could Lincoln have been making a political comment and not speaking from the heart?A politician always tells the truth :)

    1. Sparks,

      You’re once again selectively quoting Lincoln during his debates with Douglas. As I explained previously, Illinois, particularly southern Illinois, was one of the most race conscious (i.e., racist) states in the Union.

  2. Tim,

    Nice comeback.But, I think you should have an open an honest debate with the leadership over at scv.org on your website.(Sons of Confederate Veterans).Obviously, not everyone has to agree with “Honest Abe”.Also, reading some literature on critisism on President Lincolns tactics would help broaden your perspective on our 16th president.Ofcourse, you could start with the Institute for Historical Review.Sam Dickson has an interesting article on “Shattering the Icon of Abraham Lincoln.”

    In closing, it’s the role of every patriot to examine history in it’s true form.The danger to liberty is when politicians like President Lincoln are put on some false pedestal.

    Deo Vindice

  3. just reading the anti Lincoln rhetoric heremakes me realize this site is not objective-it’s about tearing down Lincoln, period, not educating or debating facts. Really, it’ driven by hatred.

  4. Everyone, apparently even Lincoln, misunderstands the phrase “all men are created equal.”

    At the time it was written the writers held slaves. They were speaking of the peerage system of titled nobility in England which ruled them as lesser men. The argument they made is that those born to inherit their father’s title were not born superior to others.

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