Words of caution from Abraham Lincoln which can be applied to all forms of tyranny.

[Joinfortmill]

Last edited Sun Feb 13, 2022, 10:31 AM - Edit history (1)

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/

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"Lincoln dated the founding of the nation from the Declaration of Independence rather than the Constitution, the document enslavers preferred because of that document’s protection of property."

'I should like to know if taking this old Declaration of Independence, which declares that all men are equal upon principle and making exceptions to it… where will it stop?'

'Once we have replaced the principle of equality with the idea that humans are unequal, we have granted approval to the idea of rulers and ruled. At that point, all any of us can do is to hope that no one in power decides that we belong in one of the lesser groups.'

[abqtommy]

1. Is this the same Abraham Lincoln who was involved in the mass hanging of 38

Santee Sioux Chiefs in Minnesota in 1862? Why yes, yes it is.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/300-santee-sioux-sentenced-to-hang-in-minnesota

[niyad]

4. Thank you for that horrific reminder.

[Manfred Arcane]

5. These executions were ordered by a military tribunal...

Last edited Sun Feb 13, 2022, 04:14 PM - Edit history (2)

Originally 300+ were condemned to be hung, but Lincoln commuted the sentences for all but 38 of them. He did this in the context of intense political pressure, threats of mob violence and vigilante "justice" by local civilians and soldiers, etc.

All of us are to a large degree products of our time, environments, and circumstances. Lincoln may not have been perfect, but I believe there is a lot to admire about the man. If he were alive now he would likely stand as a moral and intellectual giant relative to the politicians (of either party) we have today.

[multigraincracker]

3. K&R

Thanks for info. Very important.