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Publications & Reports

Bleek writes about the American Civil War and the death of Abraham Lincoln. He reflects on the late president's compassion for adversaries like General Lee after the fall of Richmond and what, if anything, his death now means for the world. Bleek extols Lincoln's rustic charm and virtues, commending his forthrightness and moral rectitude. He posits that, comfortingly, Lincoln died after successfully discharging his duty and that his singular nature transcended his lack of educational and social pedigree. Using Lincoln, Bleek tries to illustrate the ideal leader (sincere, empathetic, unshakable) and system of government (federalism). Unlike secession, federalised unification lowers the likelihood of war and deters external threats to sovereignty while accommodating the idiosyncracies of member states. Great leaders, even in death, suffuse the state fabric. He concludes Lincoln to be greater than Franklin, whose vanity (self-praise) mars his otherwise exceptional character. The higher responsibility of the presidency may have extruded Lincoln's already unpretentious, beloved character. Andrew Johnson, his less-liked and less-known successor, will likely be obscured.

Printed newsprint glued on paper

08/06/1865

Two cut out columns of newsprint text, positioned vertically parallel, pasted onto a plus-sized A4 unlined sheet with visible warping. No title was subsequently handwritten onto the mount/paper backing.