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Can God Send Another Lincoln?

America's moment of need calls for another "Father of Democracy

Albumen portrait of Abraham Lincoln, taken in Washington at Gardner’s studio on Aug. 9, 1863. (Photo: Alexander Gardner/Public domain)

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By Akerele Christabel.

March 2, 2024
3:19 pm
Los Angeles, CA

"the government of the people, by the people and for the people,"

Abraham Lincoln

In the popular legend of King Arthur of Camelot, it was prophesied that after his death, he would return to life when Albion’s need was greatest. In the 21st century United States of America, one wishes the same thing could be said of Lincoln for the sake of the country. Bent and groaning under the yoke of fierce political wars, economic problems, and external aggression, the country desperately cries out for a leader similar to Abraham Lincoln. Arguably one of the greatest America has ever seen, Abraham Lincoln’s presidency (1861-1865) wasn’t simply defined by years but by the strength of his impact. Lincoln ascended to the office amidst escalating sectional tensions. His immediate challenge was preserving the Union. His inaugural address, though conciliatory towards the South, made it clear

Arguably one of the greatest America has ever seen, Abraham Lincoln’s presidency (1861-1865) wasn’t simply defined by years but by the strength of his impact. Lincoln ascended to the office amidst escalating sectional tensions. His immediate challenge was preserving the Union. His inaugural address, though conciliatory towards the South, made it clear he wouldn’t tolerate secession. The American Civil War finally became real when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter.

Throughout the conflict, Lincoln faced immense pressure. Military setbacks tested his resolve, and balancing political factions within the North proved equally challenging. He faced criticism from radical abolitionists for not pushing emancipation further and from conservative elements for exceeding his wartime powers. Yet, Lincoln handled these incidents with masterful political maneuvering. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, a critical turning point that shifted the war’s purpose from preserving the Union to abolishing slavery. He fostered unity within the Republican Party and skillfully rallied public support for his cause.

His Gettysburg Address, delivered in 1863, not only honored fallen soldiers but also redefined the war’s aim, emphasizing the nation’s rebirth based on the ideals of equality and liberty. By 1865, under Lincoln’s leadership, the Union prevailed.

Recent happenings have shown us how desperately America needs a man like Lincoln. Political divisions run deep, coloring everything from social discourse to policy debates. The two major parties hold increasingly divergent views on issues like abortion, gun control, and immigration, making compromise and collaboration difficult. This polarization fuels a sense of national gridlock, hindering progress on critical issues and slowly eroding democratic norms.

Electoral battles abound with unabated ferocity, with the latest casualty being Former President Donald Trump. Nearly 100 felony criminal charges have been leveled against the former president, who remains the odds-on favorite to win the nomination to be the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential candidate. Between his 91 felony counts, Mr Trump faces a total of roughly seven centuries in jail time, spread between dozens of charges of varying seriousness.

However, these charges against Trump seem to have been motivated by a political undertone. Critics have described these charges against Trump as a move by the in-power opposition party to put him behind bars indefinitely while getting rid of their most influential foe in one fell swoop. Gary Varvel, the insightful political cartoonist, had to ask, “Is this the new America where we prosecute political opponents?”

Ben Shapiro, an American lawyer and columnist, gave his opinion concerning this matter in these words:”All of this is quite terrible for the country. No matter what you think of Trump’s various legal imbroglios… the glass has now been broken over and over and over again: Political opponents can be targeted by legal enemies. It will not be unbroken… If you think that only Democratic district attorneys will play this game, you have another thing coming. Prepare for a future in which running for office carries the legal risk of going to jail—on all sides. Which means that only the worst and the most shameless will run for office.”

As Americans look into dark clouds with heavy sighs, seeking that silver lining, we are reminded of the ideals that defined the nation called America, the ideals the founding fathers swore to defend, the ideals Abraham Lincoln phrases in these memorable words:

“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”