The second part of my essay on Lincoln and the contemporary Republican Party was published yesterday at Kiko’s House.
Last week, after the first part was published, a TMV commenter wrote that “Historical figures can only be judged by the standards of their times … so the whole argument is moot.” Perhaps. But that doesn’t stop Republicans and Democrats from fighting over Lincoln. Hence, as long as any party attempts to argue that a historical figure is more reflective of its values than another party’s values, I consider such claims fair game for analysis and debate.
Of course, as I suggested in the linked essay’s conclusion, neither of today’s major parties may be able to lay legitimate claim to Lincoln. I focused on the holes in the Republicans’ argument because I was once a Republican. I leave the holes in the Democrats’ argument to someone else.