Lincoln, the unknown

22A,sk the average American citizen to-day why the Civil Warwas fought; and the chances are that he will reply, "To freethe slaves."Was it?Let's see. Here is a sentence taken from Lincoln's first inauguraladdress:"I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, tointerfere with the institution of slavery in the States where itnow exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I haveno inclination to do so."The fact is that the cannon had been booming and thewounded groaning for almost eighteen months before Lincolnissued the Emancipation Proclamation. During all that time theradicals and the Abolitionists had urged him to act at once,storming at him through the press and denouncing him fromthe public platform.Once a delegation of Chicago ministers appeared at the WhiteHouse with what they declared was a direct command fromAlmighty God to free the slaves immediately. Lincoln told themthat he imagined that if the Almighty had any advice to offerHe would come direct to headquarters with it, instead of sendingit around via Chicago.Finally Horace Greeley, irritated by Lincoln's procrastinationand inaction, attacked the President in an article entitled,"The Prayer of Twenty Millions." Two columns bristling withbitter complaints.158