Words for Our Time: Lincoln’s Lyceum Address

Abraham Lincoln spoke about the America’s founders, mobs, reason, and the preservation of our republic.

Statue of Abraham Lincoln outside the Illinois Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois, photograph by Carol M. Highsmith. Library of Congress. Public Domain

On Jan. 27, 1838, a tall, lanky lawyer delivered an address titled “The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions” to the Young Men’s Lyceum in Springfield, Illinois. Newly arrived in that city, which would soon become the official capital of the state, Abraham Lincoln was a stranger to many in his audience, yet his speech not only was well received but also greatly enhanced his reputation. To this day, historians and others visit this speech for its insights into his later political beliefs and policies.

But there are other reasons, matters pertinent to today’s politics and culture, that Americans should take a look at Lincoln’s Lyceum address.

Starting With Gratitude