The abuse of Lincoln’s second Inaugural speech by GOP seditionists who are making bad faith calls for unity is appalling. Lincoln did indeed say with “Malice towards none and charity for all....”. He said it in the context of finishing the war which had killed 600,000. (1)

The preceding paragraph of the speech is important. It reads, “ Fondly do we hope - fervently do we pray ~ that this mighty scourge of war may pass speedily away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all of the wealth plied by the bondman’s 250 years of unrequited toil

Shall be sunk and until every drop of blood drawn by the lash shall be paid with another drawn with the sword as was said three thousand years ago so still it must be said “ the judgements of the lord are true and righteous altogether”. Lincoln was making clear that he would

Not yield in the prosecution of the war and the military destruction of the Southern insurrection. There would be charity after victory. That charity was offered without compromise or condition. It followed unconditional surrender. One month after Lincoln delivered this speech

he sat behind Jefferson Davis’s desk. He sat there as a conqueror. The south’s slave autocracy was destroyed. Lee would surrender within days. American democracy was poisoned by a “Big Lie” during November and December. 147 Memners of Congress embraced the lie and betrayed