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whose showy speciousness might have tempted a vain man； the
silver of compromise； which might have decided the choice of a
merely acute one； and the leaden；dull and homely…looking； as
prudence always is；yet with something about it sure to attract the
eye of practical wisdom。 Mr。 Lincoln dallied with his decision
perhaps longer than seemed needful to those on whom its awful
responsibility was not to rest； but when he made it； it was worthy of
his cautious but sure…footed understanding。 The moral of the
Sphinx…riddle； and it is a deep one； lies in the childish simplicity of
the solution。 Those who fail in guessing it； fail because they are
over…ingenious； and cast about for an answer that shall suit their
own notion of the gravity of the occasion and of their own dignity；
rather than the occasion itself。
In a matter which must be finally settled by public opinion； and in
regard to which the ferment of prejudice and passion on both sides
has not yet subsided to that equilibrium of compromise from which
alone a sound public opinion can result； it is proper enough for the
private citizen to press his own convictions with all possible force
of argument and persuasion； but the popular magistrate； whose
judgment must become action； and whose action involves the whole
country； is bound to wait till the sentiment of the people is so far
advanced toward his own point of view； that what he does shall find
support in it； instead of merely confusing it with new elements of
division。 It was not unnatural that men earnestly devoted to the
saving of their country； and profoundly convinced that slavery was
its only real enemy； should demand a decided policy round which all
patriots might rally；and this might have been the wisest course for
an absolute ruler。 But in the then unsettled state of the public mind；
with a large party decrying even resistance to the slaveholders'
rebellion as not only unwise； but even unlawful； with a majority；
perhaps； even of the would…be loyal so long accustomed to regard
the Constitution as a deed of gift conveying to the South their own
judgment as to policy and instinct as to right； that they were in
doubt at first whether their loyalty were due to the country or to
slavery； and with a respectable body of honest and influential men
who still believed in the possibility of conciliation；Mr。 Lincoln
judged wisely； that； in laying down a policy in deference to one
party； he should be giving to the other the very fulcrum for which
their disloyalty had been waiting。
（1） One of the three Fates。
（2） Odysseus； or Ulysses； the hero of Homer's Odyssey。
（3） See Shakespeare's *Merchant of Venice。*
It behooved a clear…headed man in his position not to yield so far to
an honest indignation against the brokers of treason in the North as
to lose sight of the materials for misleading which were their stock
in trade； and to forget that it is not the falsehood of sophistry which
is to be feared； but the grain of truth mingled with it to make it
specious；that it is not the knavery of the leaders so much as the
honesty of the followers they may seduce； that gives them power
for evil。 It was especially his duty to do nothing which might help
the people to forget the true cause of the war in fruitless disputes
about its inevitable consequences。
The doctrine of State rights can be so handled by an adroit
demagogue as easily to confound the distinction between liberty
and lawlessness in the minds of ignorant persons； accustomed
always to be influenced by the sound of certain words； rather than
to reflect upon the principles which give them meaning。 For；
though Secession involves the manifest absurdity of denying to the
State the right of making war against any foreign power while
permitting it against the United States； though it supposes a
compact of mutual concessions and guaranties among States
without any arbiter in case of dissension； though it contradicts
common…sense in assuming that the men who framed our
government did not know what they meant when they substituted
Union for confederation； though it falsifies history； which shows
that the main opposition to the adoption of the Constitution was
based on the argument that it did not allow that independence in the
several States which alone would justify them in seceding；yet； as
slavery was universally admitted to be a reserved right； an inference
could be drawn from any direct attack upon it （though only in self…
defence） to a natural right of resistance； logical enough to satisfy
minds untrained to detect fallacy； as the majority of men always are；
and now too much disturbed by the disorder of the times； to
consider that the order of events had any legitimate bearing on the
argument。 Though Mr。 Lincoln was too sagacious to give the
Northern allies of the Rebels the occasion they desired and even
strove to provoke； yet from the beginning of the war the most
persistent efforts have been made to confuse the public mind as to
its origin and motives； and to drag the people of the loyal States
down from the national position they had instinctively taken to the
old level of party squabbles and antipathies。 The wholly
unprovoked rebellion of an oligarchy proclaiming negro slavery the
corner…stone of free institutions； and in the first flush of over…hasty
confidence venturing to parade the logical sequence of their leading
dogma； 〃that slavery is right in principle； and has nothing to do with
difference of complexion；〃 has been represented as a legitimate and
gallant attempt to maintain the true principles of democracy。 The
rightful endeavor of an established government； the least onerous
that ever existed； to defend itself against a treacherous attack on its
very existence； has been cunningly made to seem the wicked effort
of a fanatical clique to force its doctrines on an oppressed
population。
Even so long ago as when Mr。 Lincoln； not yet convinced of the
danger and magnitude of the crisis； was endeavoring to persuade
himself of Union majorities at the South； and to carry on a war that
was half peace in the hope of a peace that would have been all war；…
…while he was still enforcing the Fugitive Slave Law； under some
theory that Secession； however it might absolve States from their
obligations； could not escheat them of their claims under the
Constitution； and that slaveholders in rebellion had alone among
mortals the privilege of having their cake and eating it at the same
time；the enemies of free government were striving to persuade the
people that the war was an Abolition crusade。 To rebel without
reason was proclaimed as one of the rights of man； while it was
carefully kept out of sight that to suppress rebellion is the first duty
of government。 All the evils that have come upon the country have
been attributed to the Abolitionists； though it is hard to see how any
party can become permanently powerful except in one of two ways；
either