Abraham Lincoln, the Founding Fathers, and the Utility of Logos Versus Pathos

Consider, if you will, young Abe Lincoln's speech, "The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions," which he gave to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois on January 27, 1838. He was a mere political whippersnapper at this point, but the seeds of the civil unrest that would define his presidency were already sprouting. He spends much of the speech denouncing a recent spate of lynchings and mob law in far flung parts of the nation, then finishes by exhorting folks to turn their passions into a steadfast commitment to the rule of law and an unshakable faith in the wisdom of a reasonable government. Here's what he says. See if you buy it...

Another reason which once was; but which, to the same extent, is now no more, has done much in maintaining our institutions thus far. I mean the powerful influence which the interesting scenes of the revolution had upon the passions of the people as distinguished from their judgment. By this influence, the jealousy, envy, and avarice, incident to our nature, and so common to a state of peace, prosperity, and conscious strength, were, for the time, in a great measure smothered and rendered inactive; while the deep-rooted principles of hate, and the powerful motive of revenge, instead of being turned against each other, were directed exclusively against the British nation. And thus, from the force of circumstances, the basest principles of our nature, were either made to lie dormant, or to become the active agents in the advancement of the noblest cause -- that of establishing and maintaining civil and religious liberty.

But this state of feeling must fade, is fading, has faded, with the circumstances that produced it...

Passion has helped us; but can do so no more. It will in future be our enemy. Reason, cold, calculating, unimpassioned reason, must furnish all the materials for our future support and defence. -- Let those materials be moulded into general intelligence, sound morality, and in particular, a reverence for the constitution and laws: and, that we improved to the last; that we remained free to the last; that we revered his name to the last; that, during his long sleep, we permitted no hostile foot to pass over or desecrate his resting place; shall be that which to learn the last trump shall awaken our WASHINGTON.

Upon these let the proud fabric of freedom rest, as the rock of its basis; and as truly as has been said of the only greater institution, "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."