"We Cannot Escape History": Lincoln's Legacy, 162 Years Later

Written by Bella Coyne

In December of 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln addressed Congress, it was against the backdrop of the American Civil War. Reality had sunken in – this was no six-month war, as most Americans had predicted. It was the culmination of years of dissonance, disrespect, disquiet. It was two sides arguing their definition of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Sound familiar?

In our nation which appears to be so fiercely divided, it’s easy to forget we stand on common ground – the ground upon which history was made. It’s easy to forget how where we came from can guide us to where we need to be. But no worries – that’s why we’re here! Let’s reflect for a moment on President Lincoln’s words back in ‘62. 

“Fellow citizens,” said Lincoln, “we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered, in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance, can spare one or another of us.” 

The no-escape bit sounds a little like a threat, but it was a call to action. Lincoln was recognizing that the war which they were fighting wasn’t just about them – any attempts to be heroic, or to be invisible, will fail in the end. As Americans, we are called to look back to those that came before us, emulate their goodness, and learn from their mistakes. Old Abe knows this. We know this, too. 

“In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free -- honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth. Other means may succeed; this could not fail.”

Back then, the issue threatening to pull apart the country was the institution of slavery. In December of 1862, those outside of Lincoln’s closest circle had no idea that within a month, close to 4 MILLION enslaved men and women were to be set free. 

These days, politicians and lawmakers, laypeople and influencers, often assert that democracy in America is at stake. But paying close attention to life 160 years ago should tell you that is it not – not like it was back then. That doesn’t mean that we don’t have a long way to go; it simply means we must look back and appreciate how far we have come. History exists as a warning sign, a cautionary tale, AND a beacon of hope.   

“The way is plain, peaceful, generous, just -- a way which, if followed, the world will forever applaud, and God must forever bless.”

When we advocate for a cause, when we vote for a candidate, when we boycott or protest or post, maybe we should take a moment and examine ourselves through the lens of plain, peaceful, generous, and just. Lincoln understood his responsibility and fame as president – he did not know about X or Fox News or CNN. He could not have known that 162 years later, people would be printing his words out on bumper stickers, tattooing themselves, quoting him on television, citing him in major publications across the country and the world. We, however, understand what technology can do, and the possibilities it contains. Therefore, let us speak, vote, and live with the understanding that our decisions are everlasting. After all – the best part about history is that we get to create it. We’ll leave you with a final quote from that (absolutely brilliant) speech. 

“It is not, ‘Can any of us imagine better?’, but ‘Can we all do better?’”