My heart says General Robert E. Lee - because I am from the South. My brain says President Lincoln - because the idea of democracy of the people, America survived.
I'd choke trying to put Lincoln and Democracy into the same sentence unless it was overloaded with negatives and disclaimers. ("Despite suspending Habeus Corpus, initiating a draft, crushing states' rights, subverting the Constitution, and leaving our ancestors with a hundred (plus) year schism...America survived")
The war itself was Grant and Lee, albeit with a stellar supporting cast of both villains and saints, heroes and knaves. It would have been a real test, and much shorter in duration, had the two faced off from the outset.
You honor Lincoln for subverting the Constitution? (Every FReeper should know that America was set up as a Republic, not a Democracy.
sorry but I just cannot put the two together Lincoln and democracy.
He actually took rights away, brought in laws like the draft.