[Hoot Gibson]

My expectation from you, Hoot, was met. Based on other strains in Lincoln's thought, and the sources I looked at, I do not share your "hoax" view of the quote. Of course, that is for others, who are interested, to look up for themselves, Snopes balanced with others, and decide. The ability to avoid the North/South conflict... by what means? allowing the country to remain both slave and free? a clear abrogation of this country's creed? Believing in fair scales capitalism, in the dignity and vulnerablity of the working man does not make one a socialist. Period.

If you knew that the authenticity of the quote that you attributed to Lincoln was questionable when you created the thread, then you should have disclosed that fact in the OP. If you did not know, then you should have known. I am not debating Lincoln's worth as a president here, merely demonstrating that you once again made assumptions about my political beliefs with no basis in fact.