Explorations: A Great Man and a Nobody

“With malice toward none, with charity for all,
with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right . . . “
— Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural

read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s A Team of Rivals about Lincoln and his cabinet and found parallels between him and my mother. One might well ask, “How can you compare a nobody like Ruth Kelly Gard Wallace with the great Lincoln?” Lincoln knew from the time that he was a boy that he was special and worried that he would die unrecognized. My humble mother sought little except hoping for a better life for her children and that she would meet Jesus.
Lincoln loved words and stories and poetry. He tenaciously memorized whatever he got his hands on — the Bible, Shakespeare, the Declaration, the Constitution. When he didn’t have paper he wrote on a piece of wood that he’d shave off when it was full. He had a total of one year of formal schooling. His illiterate father hired him out, refusing to pay for him to go to school. Lincoln was an authentic genius who even taught himself Euclidian geometry. He was also one of the best wordsmiths that America has produced.
Mother had eight years of schooling before Grandpa told her she’d have to earn her keep. Lincoln’s insights about the mechanics of politics that led him to the presidency amaze me. Mother took the only course open to her by marrying. However, she read voraciously, loved and memorized poetry and was curious about the world and the universe.
Lincoln’s character shines throughout Goodwin’s book. For example, he appointed his rivals for the nomination to his cabinet. The Treasurer, Salmon Chase, was a talented, but detestable backbiter who even ran against him for the nomination for his second term. Lincoln appointed him Chief Justice even though he said he’d rather swallow a chair, because it was good for America.
Few had Lincoln’s attitude then, and they certainly don’t have it now. He’d be saddened, but not surprised by today’s haters — after all, some called him an ape. We seem as polarized as Lincoln’s America was. Haters, both liberal and conservative, spread venomous, malicious stories about officials with whom they disagree; and if one dares question their self-righteous opinions they are dismissive and furious.
Mother’s maternal grandfather was a Union soldier. She sermonized about racial, religious and cultural prejudice. “Real Christians accept everyone!” She continued to grow spiritually. When she was eighty she said that she disapproved of gays. “Now mother . . . “ After breaking a hip, she said, “My gay neighbors are so kind. I understand now that Christ lives in them.” Regardless of terrorists, she’d have loved our friend Vadel.
I bet that Lincoln knew this poem about a Muslim saint that Mother often recited.
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
    Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
    And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
    Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
    An angel writing in a book of gold:
    Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
    And to the Presence in the room he said
    ”What writest thou?”—The vision raised its head,
    And with a look made of all sweet accord,
    Answered “The names of those who love the Lord.”
    ”And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,”
    Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
    But cheerily still, and said “I pray thee, then,
    Write me as one that loves his fellow men.”
    The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
    It came again with a great wakening light,
    And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
    And lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest.
— James Henry Lee Hunt (died in 1859)
Surely, my hero Lincoln’s name and that of Ruth Kelly Gard Wallace would have led the angel’s golden list. I shall never be their equal, but they inspire me to try to be a better person. wclarke@comcast.net