Lincoln’s Greatest Governing Principle
I suppose it is risky and presumptuous to even suggest the greatness of Lincoln can be summarized via a singular principle. But then again, it hardly hurts to think about the foundation upon which arose many other merits of his essence as a person and leader. There are reasons why more books have been written about Lincoln than any other person in human history, unless you count Jesus as a person. Lincoln’s reputation is global and while his legacy is wrapped as some sort of mystical prophet for the ages, Lincoln himself had little use for religious sects of any sort. He never joined a church nor went much for rituals, gilded cathedrals, or clerical finery as means of authority on matters of life.
Donald Trump’s greatest governing principle is easy enough to discern: In every interaction between two people or nations someone will always get the shortest end of the stick—so just be sure the other person gets the shortest end of the stick. He seldom, if ever, deviates from this principle which has enabled him to acquire personal wealth and fame. Just ask all the contractors, workers, and investors in all his real estate ventures. He has no shame whatsoever that, with all his wealth, he pays no taxes. His answer in a debate about that topic was “That’s because I am smart” (as opposed to those who actually think they are obligated to pay their fair share of taxes). This deliberate aside is given here because the contrast between Lincoln (or Jesus for that matter and Trump) could not be more stark —based on behavior, spoken thoughts, emotional state, or attitude towards other people.
But let’s just leave Trump as an aside even though the immediate consequences of Trump’s guiding principle has much bearing on the immediate destiny of America and the rest of the human global community.
Lincoln once said to his longtime friend Speed that “Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who know me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower when I thought a flower would grow”. Viewing this statement in the context of his endless interactions with others, especially those less fortunate in life, coupled with his ethical belief in the Golden Rule (as the universal ethical principle of the human species), this statement comes closest to the essence of Lincoln. The Golden Rule was no universal ethical principle to be used by Lincoln when convenient, but overrode any of his self serving human instincts embedded in his human nature.
For a start here, Lincoln didn’t seem to believe in life after death. According to Doris Kearns Goodwin in her book Team of Rivals, when neighbors in Illinois asked him if he believed in some sort of Heaven after death he replied: “I’m afraid there isn’t. It isn’t a pleasant thing to think that when we die, that is the last of us”. Ward Hill Lamon, a friend of Lincoln, said just days before Lincoln’s assassination that Lincoln had a dream in which he asked who was dead in the White House, and the person in the dream said, “The President. He was killed by an assassin.” William Crook, one of Lincoln’s body guards claims that Lincoln always said ‘good night’ when leaving him for the day except, whenLincoln went to Ford’s theater his last night alive, Lincoln said “goodbye”. On the way to be inaugurated as President, Lincoln said in Philadelphia “,,,,that sentiment in the Declaration of Independence which gave liberty, not alone to the people of this country, but, I hope, to the world, for all future time. It was that which gave promise that in due time the weight would be lifted from the shoulders of all men. This is a sentiment embodied in the Declaration of Independence. Now, my friends, can this country be saved upon that basis? If it can, I will consider myself one of the happiest men in the world, if I can help to save it. If it cannot be saved upon that principle, it will be truly awful. But if this country cannot be saved without giving up that principle, I was about to say I would rather be assassinated on this spot than surrender it.”
The above thoughts by Lincoln demonstrate the consequences he was willing to accept in his quest, “Die when I may, I want it said of me by those who know me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower when I thought a flower would grow” When it came to the Golden Rule Lincoln was the real thing. When the President died no President ever had a greater number, or percentage, of citizens who either lined up to see the train pass carrying his body, or actually stood in line for endless hours to pass the casket and say goodbye. Probably no person in history ever has had all economic, racial, religious, and cultural groups in the United States grieve so loudly and long over a person’s death. Lincoln’s death illustrated the Golden Rule reward writ large: Treat everyone as we would like everyone to treat us and our achieved friends will come from every walk of life. “Hard to dislike a chap who likes you, isn’t it? Well, there’s your peace plan” (Unknown). Note: This is not to say we must like those who are mean spirited to others in life, although we must not take away their rights unless they have committed crimes against others.
The magic in the Golden Rule can be found illustrated by the extent of mourning over his death—by a person whose looks prompted some to call him the ‘original gorilla’, who spoke in a high pitched voice, wore ill-fitted clothes, had coarse hair which was unkempt, and yet his eyes, common sense, and quality of his verbal communication drew others to seek his presence as a high point of their lives, especially the less fortunate/social misfits who found his sincere empathy and assistance, when he could, stirred up their appreciation to the highest of heights.
Like so many others, of all the great leaders in history, I never grow tired of reading about “Father Abraham” or using his wisdom about life to get through difficult situations. Stanton (if he really said it), was right when at Lincoln’s deathbed when Lincoln’s heart stopped beating, he said: “Now he belongs to the ages”.
