Lincoln acknowledges that since it is his second election, there is less reason to make a long speech. He discusses the “great contest” that the nation is facing and provides an optimistic point of view on the subject. However, he clearly gives no prediction on its outcome.
Four years ago, the nation was anxious about a civil war and Lincoln had desired to preserve the union without warfare. Neither party wanted war, but in a way it was inevitable. He talks about slavery and how it was a reason for the North to keep fighting this war. He suggests that neither party expected the war to be this close or indecisive. He appeals to humanistic and religious values, stating that both sides read the same Bible and pray to the same God. Lincoln furthers this by saying that slavery was brought by God, but continued past its appointed time by man. Above anything, Lincoln wishes for the war to end with the side of justice winning. He talks of peace at the end, extending his focus to all nations around the world despite the fact that the United States is in the midst of a civil war.
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