The Abolitionists had not shirked their duty as they understood it.

They had given their property and their lives to the anti-slavery agitation.

But they were as willing as the worst Copperheads to permit the secession of the South, because of the erroneous and limited character of their political ideas.

While the crisis had undoubtedly been, in a large measure, brought about by moral lethargy, and it could only be properly faced by a great expenditure of moral energy, it had also been brought about quite as much by political unintelligence; and the salvation of the Union depended primarily and emphatically upon a better understanding on the part of Northern public opinion of the issues involved.

Confused as was the counsel offered to them, and distracting as were their habits of political thought, the people of the North finally disentangled the essential question, and then supported loyally the man who, more than any other single political leader, had properly defined the issue.
That man was Abraham Lincoln.