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Story
February 26, 1916
The Twin City Star
Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota
What is this article about?
A 19th-century article highlights Abraham Lincoln's 1855 speech criticizing national degeneracy, hypocrisy in American liberty claims, and the Know-Nothings' prejudice against Negroes, foreigners, and Catholics.
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NATIONAL DEGENERACY.
Lincoln Abhorred Oppression and Despised Hypocrisy.
The speech of Abraham Lincoln in 1855 regarding the political situation and the tendency to disregard the rights of human beings to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is strikingly applicable to the condition of affairs in this country at the present time.
Mr. Lincoln said:
"I am not a Know Nothing- that is certain. How could I be? How can any one who abhors the oppression of the Negroes be in favor of degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.'
"We now practically read it. All men are created equal except Negroes.' When the Know Nothings get control it will read. 'All men are created equal except Negroes and foreigners and Catholics.'
"When it comes to that I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty-to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure and without the base alloy of hypocrisy."
Lincoln Abhorred Oppression and Despised Hypocrisy.
The speech of Abraham Lincoln in 1855 regarding the political situation and the tendency to disregard the rights of human beings to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is strikingly applicable to the condition of affairs in this country at the present time.
Mr. Lincoln said:
"I am not a Know Nothing- that is certain. How could I be? How can any one who abhors the oppression of the Negroes be in favor of degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation we began by declaring that 'all men are created equal.'
"We now practically read it. All men are created equal except Negroes.' When the Know Nothings get control it will read. 'All men are created equal except Negroes and foreigners and Catholics.'
"When it comes to that I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty-to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure and without the base alloy of hypocrisy."
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Abraham Lincoln
Know Nothings
National Degeneracy
Hypocrisy
Civil Rights
Oppression
What entities or persons were involved?
Abraham Lincoln
Story Details
Key Persons
Abraham Lincoln
Event Date
1855
Story Details
Lincoln's 1855 speech denounces the hypocrisy in America's declaration of equality, noting its erosion to exclude Negroes and potentially foreigners and Catholics under Know-Nothing influence, preferring honest despotism in Russia over pretended liberty.