t either to save
or destroy slavery_.

"If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do
it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do
it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone,
I would do that.

"What I do about slavery and the colored race, I do because I
believe it helps to save the Union, and what I forbear, I forbear
because I do not believe it would help to save the Union.

"I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts
the cause, and shall do more whenever I believe doing more will
help the cause.

"I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors, and I shall
adopt new views so fast as they will appear to be true views.

"I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official
duty, and I intend no modifications of my oft-expressed personal
wish that all men everywhere could be free.

"Yours,
"A. Lincoln."

It is said that Mr. Greeley remarked after reading the letter that
he had been knocked out by one letter from Mr. Lincoln, and that
he "would be damned if he ever wrote him another."

There was more personal bitterness evinced against Mr. Lincoln in
the campaign of 1864 than ever before or since in a Presidential
campaign. He was denounced in the most intemperate language as a
tyrant, a dictator, whose administration had proven a failure. A
certain element of so-called "high class" New Englanders, men of
the Wendell Phillips type, were particularly bitter in their
denunciation. And I may remark in passing that the New England
men of letters never did have a proper appreciation of the worth
of Abraham Lincoln.

He was triumphantly re-elected amid the universal rejoicing of the
friends of liberty throughout the North. He took the election very
quietly. He apparently felt no sense of personal triumph over his
opponents and those who had so bitterly attacked him during the
campaign. He seemed only to have a feeling of deep gratitude to
his fellow citizens who had testified their confidence in his
administration. On the evening of election day, when it became
evident that he was re-elected to the Presidency, in response to
a serenade he said:

"I am thankful to God for this approval by the people. While deeply
grateful for this mark of their confidence in me, if I know my
heart, my gratitude is free from any taint of personal triumph,
but I give thanks to the Almighty for this evidence of the people