When it comes to this, I shall prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty--to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy....
In a letter to Joshua Speed, Lincoln declares his preference for pure despotism over hypocritical claims of liberty if American equality is corrupted.
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More from Abraham Lincoln
Unlike a case of war between independent nations, there is no organized organ for us to treat with,--no one man has authority to give up the rebellion for any other man.
If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business.
The question is, will it be wiser to take it as it is and help to improve it, or to reject and disperse it?
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