You can scarcely scatter and disperse an army which has been formed into order in the face of your heaviest fire; but if you could, how much would you gain by forcing the sentiment which created it out of the peaceful channel of the ballot-box into some other channel?
In his Cooper Union Address, Lincoln warns against the dangers of suppressing political sentiment, suggesting it would only divert it from peaceful channels.
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More from Abraham Lincoln
As a general rule I abstain from reading the reports of attacks upon myself, wishing not to be provoked by that to which I cannot properly offer an answer.
I do the very best I know how--the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end.
I am considering, and shall not fail to act when satisfied that action will be proper.
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