Originally Posted by Strange Famous

Unfortunately, when Lincoln spoke of "the people" he meant the people of a certain skin tone.

I was unaware you were a Lincoln Scholar, let alone the fact you obviously had access to his thinking process. Given the society of the time, and the attitudes slavery created in the population there may very well be some level of accuracy to your claim, I do not however see it as a forgone conclusion as you seem to. Regardless, even if you happened to be there to ask his motivation for the statement, and could therefor make such a claim...The Idea is sound, and wise.

For some words of wisdom I would prefer:

"Your Honor,years ago I recognized my kinship with all living beings, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on earth. I said then, and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it" - Eugene Debs