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Entry: On Lincoln-Bashing Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/on_lincoln_bashing#24911 Post contents: It's true that the Gettysburg Address is not a call to "global democracy" crusading, but that isn't what Mr. Buchanan is saying in that passage. As Scott says, he is saying that wars that begin for other reasons are turned into or become causes that invoke more abstract and universal goals. For Lincoln, it was to save the "government of the people" from being destroyed in America (never mind that such a government was not in danger of being destroyed by his enemies, but rather by him), while for Wilson the war became a war for the sake of democracy abroad. These are different visions, and I, for one, do not want to identify them with one another. But they both show a preference for ideological objectives and an enthusiasm for "armed doctrine" that I hope we can all agree is deeply disturbing and dangerous. I am skeptical about the claims regarding Kendall, but I admit I don't know his work as well, but I definitely have read Bradford particularly with respect to his views on Lincoln, and I know that lumping him in with the argument Dr. Havers is making is not correct. Sent at: 2008 07 04