The following contains a close reading analysis of excerpts from Abraham Lincoln's Lyceum Address delivered in January 1838 to the Young Men's Lyceum in Springfield, Illinois. Historical context for this close reading can be found the tab labeled "Background" at the top of the page. Links to the complete close reading document, the full-text version of Lincoln's address, and other relevant materials can be found under the tab labeled "Resources" located at the top of the screen.
Lincoln's Lyceum Address:
" …That our government should have been maintained in its original form from its establishment until now, is not much to be wondered at. It had many props to support it through that period, which now are decayed, and crumbled away. Through that period, it was felt by all, to be an undecided experiment; now, it is understood to be a successful one. Then, all that sought celebrity and fame, and distinction, expected to find them in the success of that experiment. Their all was staked upon it:---their destiny was inseparably linked with it. Their ambition aspired to display before an admiring world, a practical demonstration of the truth of a proposition, which had hitherto been considered, at best no better, than problematical; namely, the capability of a people to govern themselves."
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"If they succeeded, they were to be immortalized; their names were to be transferred to counties and cities, and rivers and mountains; and to be revered and sung, and toasted through all time. If they failed, they were to be called knaves and fools, and fanatics for a fleeting hour; then to sink and be forgotten.
They succeeded. The experiment is successful; and thousands have won their deathless names in making it so." |
Lincoln continues by explaining that if the experiment were to succeed though, all those who had stake in it, “were to be immortalized; their names were to be transferred to counties and cities, and rivers and mountains; and to be revered and sung, and toasted through all time.” As Lincoln affirms in his speech, clearly the nation that the founding fathers sought to establish was a “success” and Lincoln's foreshadowing of of them winning their "deathless names" is still evident today in the names of our cities, our capital, countless schools, and other historical landmarks.
Aerial view of the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C. Both monuments and the capital city they are located in are proof of Lincoln's prediction that with the success of the new nation, the founding fathers would find their names "immortalized" and "transferred to counties and cities... toasted through all time."
(Photo Courtesy of the Library of Congress) |
"But the game is caught; and I believe it is true, that with the catching, end the pleasures of the chase. This field of glory is harvested, and the crop is already appropriated. But new reapers will arise, and they, too, will seek a field. It is to deny, what the history of the world tells us is true, to suppose that men of ambition and talents will not continue to spring up amongst us. And, when they do, they will as naturally seek the gratification of their ruling passion, as others have so done before them."
The Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. where Lincoln himself would be "immortalized for all to remember"
"The question then, is, can that gratification be found in supporting and maintaining an edifice that has been erected by others? Most certainly it cannot. Many great and good men sufficiently qualified for any task they should undertake, may ever be found, whose ambition would aspire to nothing beyond a seat in Congress, a gubernatorial or a presidential chair; but such belong not to the family of the lion, or the tribe of the eagle. What! think you these places would satisfy an Alexander, a Caesar, or a Napoleon? Never!"
"Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored. It sees no distinction in adding story to story, upon the monuments of fame, erected to the memory of others. It denies that it is glory enough to serve under any chief. It scorns to tread in the footsteps of any predecessor, however illustrious. It thirsts and burns for distinction; and, if possible, it will have it, whether at the expense of emancipating slaves, or enslaving freemen."
Painting titled, "Lincoln the Railsplitter" created circa 1909. (Library of Congress)
"Is it unreasonable then to expect, that some man possessed of the loftiest genius, coupled with ambition sufficient to push it to its utmost stretch, will at some time, spring up among us? And when such a one does, it will require the people to be united with each other, attached to the government and laws, and generally intelligent, to successfully frustrate his designs."
"Distinction will be his paramount object; and although he would as willingly, perhaps more so, acquire it by doing good as harm; yet, that opportunity being past, and nothing left to be done in the way of building up, he would set boldly to the task of pulling down."
Lincoln's warning of rising demagogues who will say and do whatever it takes to achieve power are still relevant today with the rise of Republican Nominee for President, Donald Trump.
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Lincoln provides historical examples of men such as Alexander, Caesar, and Napoleon as proof of men who would never settle for a simple, “seat in Congress, a gubernatorial or presidential chair” because these men, “see no distinction in adding story to story, upon the monuments of fame, erected to the memory of others… [They] scorn to tread in the footsteps of any predecessor, however illustrious.” Lincoln is warning his audience that men are naturally not content to live in the shadows of others and will instead look to make their own name. By naming great rulers such as Alexander, Caesar, and Napoleon, Lincoln evokes images of the United States "experiment" in self-government falling at the hands of despot.
Stephen A. Douglas was the leader of the Democrat party in Illinois and would become a chief political rival of Lincoln culminating in the famous Lincoln-Douglas Debates nearly twenty years following Lincoln's lyceum address.
Many historians, such as Michael Burlingame in his book Abraham Lincoln: A Life, argue that the use of the term "towering genius" in Lincoln's address was a direct reference, and possible comment on his small stature, to the ambitious Democrat party leader in Illinois, Stephen A. Douglas who would go on to become Lincoln's major political rival for years to come.[1] In describing how far a “towering genius” was willing to go to seek glory, Lincoln states that, “[They] thirst and burn for distinction,” and provides an ironic foreshadowing of his own life as president when he states that they will accomplish that distinction, “whether at the expense of emancipating slaves, or enslaving freemen.”
Lincoln’s major concern rooted in the fear of what actions a man might be willing to undertake in order to gain the fame and distinction they so naturally desired. According to historian Susan Gray, the 1830’s ushered in a new sense of individualism for Americans and the transition to a new market economy, “demanded a generation of individuals who were willing… to seize opportunities whenever and wherever they appeared.”[2] Translated into the political realm this atmosphere provided the perfect opportunity for demagogues to seize power by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than using rational argument. Lincoln found this trend dismaying and feared becoming a demagogue himself. In his first campaign speech he made the point to declare himself as a man, “born and have remained in the humble walks of life.”[3] He would continue to portray himself as a humble man throughout his political career. In an excerpt titled “Railsplitter” from Michael Burlingame’s book Abraham Lincoln: A Life we can further see Lincoln's disdain for hyperbole in the political arena when he was said to have disapproved of his second cousin presenting two rails Lincoln had supposedly split as a young man to the roaring approval of the Illinois Republican Convention in 1860. He saw these political props as nothing more than “stage tricks” that distracted from the real issues at hand.[4] Lincoln’s fear of demagogues may have contributed to his speeches and actions as he tried to distance himself from rival politicians and portray himself as a “self-invented man”. In describing how far a “towering genius” was willing to go to seek glory, Lincoln states that, “[They] thirst and burn for distinction,” and provides an ironic foreshadowing of his own life as president when he states that they will accomplish that distinction, “whether at the expense of emancipating slaves, or enslaving freemen.” Lincoln believes that when a man does rise up and try to snag power, “It will require the people to be united with each other, attached to the government and laws, and generally intelligent, to successfully frustrate his designs,” because these men will go to great lengths to gain power and fame.
Engraving of the first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation before the Cabinet. Created circa 1866. (Library of Congress)
Lincoln explains where a demagogue’s priorities lie when he says, “Distinction will be his paramount object; and although he would as willingly, perhaps more so, acquire it by doing good as harm; yet, that opportunity being past, and nothing left to be done in the way of building up, he would set boldly to the task of pulling down.” This last point by Lincoln I feel is the most important one he makes in his speech. He implies that even a good hearted man who wants to do good in the world by “building up” can eventually fall victim to the “task of pulling down” in order to feed that craving for recognition. I believe this shows a keen understanding of human nature on Lincoln’s behalf and begs the question as to whether the Presidential Lincoln would consider himself a “towering genius” as he struggled to make difficult decisions regarding issues of secession, emancipation, and civil liberties.
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Conclusion:
In summary, Lincoln’s Lyceum Address of 1838 is an important document to study not only to understand Lincoln the man, but to also understand human nature and Americans in general. In fact, we can apply many of Lincoln’s insights to the modern world today. I believe Lincoln’s contention that, “with the catching, end the pleasures of the chase” can be used to describe much more than just the restlessness Americans felt after achieving independence in the American Revolution. This quote could easily apply to American apathy after almost every major social and political movement in American history. Lincoln did achieve victory in the Civil War and ended slavery, but it was not long after that “catch” was made that the “pleasure” was gone and the Jim Crow South was allowed to flourish. Civil Rights and Voting Rights legislation were major accomplishments in the United States but when the “pleasure” of that “catch” disappeared we were left with decades of declining voting turnout and continued racial injustices that are still major problems today. Lincoln’s fear of dangerous demagogues is warranted because when America does become restless and apathetic to social and political issues, it breeds an environment ripe for someone to “shake things up” by either “building us up” or “tearing us down.” Never is this more clear than in the current 2016 presidential race where we have seen a candidate in Donald Trump, as the Republican nominee, running a campaign that is filled with racist, sexist, and incendiary rhetoric. It is elections like this that when it is of the utmost importance that the citizens of the United States will have learned the lesson from Lincoln's Lyceum Address that in order to avoid the dangers of a demagogue it will, “require the people to be united with each other, attached to the government and laws, and generally intelligent.”
In summary, Lincoln’s Lyceum Address of 1838 is an important document to study not only to understand Lincoln the man, but to also understand human nature and Americans in general. In fact, we can apply many of Lincoln’s insights to the modern world today. I believe Lincoln’s contention that, “with the catching, end the pleasures of the chase” can be used to describe much more than just the restlessness Americans felt after achieving independence in the American Revolution. This quote could easily apply to American apathy after almost every major social and political movement in American history. Lincoln did achieve victory in the Civil War and ended slavery, but it was not long after that “catch” was made that the “pleasure” was gone and the Jim Crow South was allowed to flourish. Civil Rights and Voting Rights legislation were major accomplishments in the United States but when the “pleasure” of that “catch” disappeared we were left with decades of declining voting turnout and continued racial injustices that are still major problems today. Lincoln’s fear of dangerous demagogues is warranted because when America does become restless and apathetic to social and political issues, it breeds an environment ripe for someone to “shake things up” by either “building us up” or “tearing us down.” Never is this more clear than in the current 2016 presidential race where we have seen a candidate in Donald Trump, as the Republican nominee, running a campaign that is filled with racist, sexist, and incendiary rhetoric. It is elections like this that when it is of the utmost importance that the citizens of the United States will have learned the lesson from Lincoln's Lyceum Address that in order to avoid the dangers of a demagogue it will, “require the people to be united with each other, attached to the government and laws, and generally intelligent.”
Notes:
[1] Michael Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Maryland: John Hopkins University Press, Vol. 1 Ch. 5 (2008)
[2] Kenneth J. Winkle, Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made Man, Michigan: University of Michigan Press (2000)
[3] Winkle, Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made Man
[4] Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: A Life
[1] Michael Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Maryland: John Hopkins University Press, Vol. 1 Ch. 5 (2008)
[2] Kenneth J. Winkle, Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made Man, Michigan: University of Michigan Press (2000)
[3] Winkle, Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made Man
[4] Burlingame, Abraham Lincoln: A Life