"Edward G. Ryan and the Civil War" by St. Mary Micke
 

Date of Award

8-1960

Degree Type

Master's Essay - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

First Advisor

Frank L. Klement

Abstract

The adulation paid Abraham Lincoln over the nearly one hundred year span since his martyr's death has reached heroic proportions. In this the centennial year of his nomination and election to the high office of President, thousands of words have been written and spoken, numerous incidents have been dramatized more colorful than historical, all of which are prophetic of more and still more to come. With this almost daily mounting evidence of national homage to a great American, it is next to impossible to remember that he ever has had any opposition to face, any criticism to bear, any disloyalty to counteract. Americans glowing with enthusiasm for this colossal Republican forget the large segment of Civil War voters who belonged to the Democratic Party during this era, men who sincerely refused to conform to the then current fad of Republicanism. That two-fifths of those who voted in Wisconsin in the presidential election of 1860 preferred Douglas to Lincoln was indicative of the number and power of this dissenting element. That Lincoln received a minority number of the total popular vote likewise testified to the strength of the anti-Lincoln majority. Throughout the entire Civil War the Democratic Party of the North showed how very alive it was. It refused t o be snowed under by the blizzard of Republican tactics,military or political; it very articulately offered opinions on national issues; it was very critical of the Lincoln administrations; it vehemently professed its unwavering loyalty to the Union.

Comments

An essay submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Arts in History, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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