Steve McGrath
Aug 22, 2017 · 2 min read

Eventually, they will come for Lincoln too. Although President Lincoln abhorred slavery, there was little difference between his views and those of southern Democrats on the equality and amalgamation of the Black and White races.

In his fourth debate with Stephen Douglas in 1858, he was quite frank with his audience that he was a proponent of white supremacy. His debate comments followed an earlier speech on the Dred Scott decision, in which he affirmed his support for the repatriation or colonization of freed slaves. Under today’s social justice microscope, there are very few 19th century White American leaders who would pass their litmus test.

I included the relevant portion of his debate argument below which offers the most comprehensive summary of his views on the subject.

“While I was at the hotel to — day, an elderly gentleman called upon me to know whether I was really in favor of producing a perfect equality between the negroes and white people. [Great Laughter.] While I had not proposed to myself on this occasion to say much on that subject, yet as the question was asked me I thought I would occupy perhaps five minutes in saying something in regard to it.

I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races, [applause] — that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality.

And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race. I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything.

I do not understand that because I do not want a negro woman for a slave I must necessarily want her for a wife. [Cheers and laughter.] My understanding is that I can just let her alone. I am now in my fiftieth year, and I certainly never have had a black woman for either a slave or a wife. So it seems to me quite possible for us to get along without making either slaves or wives of negroes. I will add to this that I have never seen, to my knowledge, a man, woman or child who was in favor of producing a perfect equality, social and political, between negroes and white men.”

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    Steve McGrath

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