Quote of the Day 2: Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
Since today is both Darwin's and Lincoln's 200th birthday, both born Feb. 12, 1809, I think I should balance out my quotes of the day. The earlier was a beautiful passage from Darwin's Origin of Species, and here Lincoln's justly famous and comparatively brief Second Inaugural Address: Fellow-Countrymen: AT this second appearing to take the oath of the Presidential office there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement somewhat in detail of a course to be pursued seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself, and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all....