Funny, I started noticing the problems in the present, and tracked them back to their source. It turned out to be the Civil War.
Seriously, I never paid attention to the Civil war until the mid 1990s. I simply never thought of it.
What was bothering me back in those days (apart from that disgusting maggot Bill Clinton being in office because of the Media tampering with the electorate) was Abortion, Homosexuality, Welfare, Judicial Activism, especially as regards religion, Excessive Taxation, Excessive Regulation, and indulgence of Criminal Behavior, and a refusal to protect America's interests abroad.
I used to subscribe to a large array of conservative publications including "National Review", "American Spectator", the Limbaugh Letter, etc.
I started learning how things were connected. For example, the ban on prayer in public schools started more or less with Roosevelt Appointees in 1948, and then went through the Madalyn Murray O'Hair, case in 1963, and continued on to the present day.
I found out from David Barton's book "the Myth of Separation" how much of what the courts were telling us was utter crap, and completely at odds with history. In 1787, many states had official state religions, so there never was any of this "separation" crap at that time.
To make a long story short, the Courts asserted that the Federal prohibition against a recognition of religion must also apply to the states Because of the 14th amendment!
I thought to myself, "surely the 14th amendment was never intended to be used to throw God out of the public places of America."
I contemplated the exact same chain of events for the Supreme Court's "Roe" decision in 1973. Again, the 14th amendment created a "penumbra" of a "right to privacy" which somehow can be legally twisted into a right to commit abortion.
Again I said to myself "Surely the 14th amendment was never intended to be used to allow women to murder their unborn children."
Do you see where I am going with this?
If you look at much that is going on now that is absolutely wrong, and if you trace it's pedigree back to it's origin, you find much of our troubles are originating in the 14th amendment. This Homosexual marriage/gay wedding cake bullsh*t is another one of those legal doctrines that traces directly back to the 14th amendment. All legal issues of "discrimination" trace back to the 14th amendment.
So does "Anchor Babies".
The Civil war turned normal Federalism on it's head. That was the point at which everything changed, and not just for the Southern States. The subsequent consequences of the Civil war brought insanity to the Northern states as well. We are now "Legally" Insane from sea to shinning sea.
Federalism?
In the decision that you are upset about (Charlie Craig v. Masterpiece Cake Shop), the Colorado Court of Appeals relied upon Colorado's anti-discrimation statute (Section 24-34-601) that prohibits discrimination based upon "sexual orientation." There are some stated (including Colorado) that have passed laws providing special protecting homosexuals.
Now, how is Lincoln or the Civil War responsible for a state court decision enforcing a state statute passed by a state legislature? I have been assuming that you were a big fan of a state's right to pass and enforce its own laws.
I disagree with the court's decision because I think it reads the state statute too broadly. But, the Civil War has nothing to do with it. If anything, the Confederate states wanted to give states greater power to create their own laws.
I just think this is an example of how an obsession with the 1860's can cripple the ability to clearly look at a present day problem. The Civil War is over; forget about it. Lincoln didn't cause the Colorado legislature to pass this statute. He didn't cause these judges to interpret this state statute as it did. Lincoln and the Civil War have nothing to do with this case.
And up to that point, but no further, you are still a rational human being, a conservative and a member in good standing of the Free Republic, imho.
But when you go beyond that to claim that framers of the 14th Amendment are to blame for today's insanities, and then blame Abraham Lincoln for todays use of a constitutional amendment which was not even proposed in Congress until several months after his death, that is pure Lost-Causer mythology & overheated imagination unrestrained by any serious love for facts & reason.
Bottom line: Lincoln -- like George Washington before him -- deserves full credit for all the good things he did, and some credit for good that came later.
He does not deserve blame for all the bad things people have done "in his name", especially when there's no evidence Lincoln would have supported any of it.
To think otherwise is to drive yourself nuts, for which you should be seeking professional help, FRiend.