Lincoln on Democracy 9780823292066

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LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY

Abraham Lincoln delivers his second inaugural address from the east portico of the United States Capitol on March 4, 1865. This was the only occasion on which Lincoln was photographed delivering a speech. It is probably the work of noted Washington camera artist Alexander Gardner. When Lincoln was introduced, journalist Noah Brooks reported, "a great burst of applause shook the air," and then the sun broke through overcast skies, flooding "the spectacle with glory and light." (Photograph: Library of Congress)

LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY REVISED EDITION

Edited, Introduced, and with a New Preface by

MARIO M. CUOMO and

Harold Holzer

WITH ESSAYS BY

Gabor S. Boritt William E. Gienapp Charles B. Strozier Richard Nelson Current James M. McPherson Mark E. Neely, Jr. Hans L. Trefousse Afterword by Frank J. Williams

FORDHAM UNIVERSITY PRESS NEW YORK 2004

Copyright © 2004 Fordham University Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means-electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other-except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865. Lincoln on democracy I edited and introduced by Mario M. Cuomo and Harold Holzer ; with essays by Gabor S. Boritt ... [et al.] ; afterword by Frank J. Williams.-1st Fordham University Pressed. p. em. Originally published: New York: HarperCollins, c1990. With a new preface. Includes index. ISBN 0-8232-2345-0 (pbk.) 1. Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865-Views on democracy. 2. Democracy. I. Cuomo, Mario Matthew. II. Holzer, Harold. III. Boritt, G. S., 1940- IV. Title. E457.92 2004 973'.092-dc22 2004057634 Printed in the United States of America 08 07 06 05 04 5 4 3 2 1

To the People of Poland, for inviting Lincoln abroad The new edition of this book is dedicated to Czeslaw Milosz (1911-2004) Poet, Patriot, and apostle of democracy, whose translation of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address graces the Polish-language edition of this collection.

Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better, or equal, hope in the world? Abraham Lincoln First Inaugural Address March 4, 1861

Contents

PREFACE TO THE FORDHAM UNIVERSITY PRESS EDITION

xxiii

By Mario M. Cuomo and Harold Holzer

xxvii

PREFACE

By Mario M Cuomo xxxiii

INTRODUCTION

By Harold Holzer A NOTE ON THE LINCOLN TEXTS, AND THE INTRODUCTORY xlv

ESSAYS

xlix

"NOT MUCH OF ME"

Lincoln's ''Autobiography," Age 50, December 20, 1859

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