From your source:
............... The title reflects part of the speech’s introduction, “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” a concept familiar to Lincoln’s audience as a statement by Jesus recorded in all three synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke).
Even Lincoln’s friends regarded the speech as too radical for the occasion. His law partner, William H. Herndon, considered Lincoln as morally courageous but politically incorrect. Lincoln read the speech to him before delivering it, referring to the “house divided” language this way: “The proposition is indisputably true ... and I will deliver it as written. I want to use some universally known figure, expressed in simple language as universally known, that it may strike home to the minds of men in order to rouse them to the peril of the times.”
The speech created many repercussions, giving Lincoln’s political opponent fresh ammunition. Herndon remarked, “when I saw Senator Douglas making such headway against Mr. Lincoln’s house divided speech I was nettled & irritable, and said to Mr. Lincoln one day this — ‘Mr. Lincoln — why in the world do you not say to Mr. Douglas, when he is making capitol out of your speech, — ‘Douglas why whine and complain to me because of that speech. I am not the author of it. God is. Go and whine and complain to Him for its revelation, and utterance.’ Mr. Lincoln looked at me one short quizzical moment, and replied ‘I can’t.’”
1) would anyone today recognize the source of the house divided?
2) Why did Lincoln have a quizzical look and reply “I can’t”? (to a perfectly good, political response you and I would encourage him to say)
1. Some few would still recognize it.
2. I imagine it was a matter of conscience. I don’t profess the ability to see into his heart or mind to discern exactly what the struggle was in that respect. But he obviously just didn’t feel free to respond in that way.
Hard to argue with the outcome, over the long haul.
We reap what we sow, even if the harvest doesn’t all come in overnight.
Douglas won a Senate seat. Lincoln won immortality.