March 4, 1865
On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded it, all sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without war, insurgent agents were in the city seeking to destroy it without war—seeking to dissolve the Union and divide effects by negotiation. Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came.
Both parties meaning Lincoln and the other the Southern Peace Delegation trying to negotiate peace. Lincoln "accepted" the war meaning he let it happen so it was his choice.
If Lincoln accepted the war then that must mean someone else initiated the war. Making them the warmongers. I wonder who that was?