Lincoln, Being the Consumate Politician, Would Be in Favor Today.
By Maui Curmudgeon

Shortly before being elected president, Abraham Lincoln stated:

“I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races.

“That I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality.

“And, inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be a position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.”

I bring this up only to update my take on the president. Last year I read a biography of each president, and came down hard on Lincoln as a not very nice man, rather incompetent in war matters, and certainly not the great liberator most of the public think they know. A new book just out by Henry Gates seems to bear me out.

It’s interesting particularly in light of our having a black president now.

EDITOR’S NOTE:
Join the Maui Curmudgeon for a week-long tour of the Hawaiian Islands starting Sunday, June 28th.