From “Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst
October 14
Domestic reaction to the
Emancipation Proclamation seemed as furious as it was remarkably shortsighted.
The Republican press in giving the proclamation strong editorial support
assured their readers that liberated slaves would not stampede into the North
and steal their jobs. Even so, this decision cost the Lincoln administration a
huge price: by-partisan support for the war disappeared like snow in spring.
‘It is impudent and insulting to God as to man,’ cried one Democrat, ‘for it
declares those equal whom God created unequal.’ There was trouble in the army
as well with white soldiers cursing liberated slaves with an ‘unreasoning
hatred.’ But Lincoln was immovable as stone. He was determined to strike at the
rebellion at its very core. He also estimated that making this an overt fight
against slavery would doom any hopes the South had of foreign recognition.
Finally, he anticipated great advantage not only from depleting the South of
slave labor but also in swelling Union ranks with black soldiers [in the end an
estimated 186,000 blacks joined the Union war effort].
‘Make your decision on the merits
of the thing, not on the fear of what someone may or may not say.'
- Anonymous
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