On the recordOctober 16, 1854
When the white man governs himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government,--that is despotism.
Source
gutenberg.orgAbraham Lincoln: “When the white man governs himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also governs another man…”
Editor's note · Context
Lincoln defines true self-government as distinct from despotism, emphasizing that governing oneself is not the same as governing another person.
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