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Abraham Lincoln was a Southern poor white, of illegitimate birth, poorly educated and unusually ugly, awkward, ill-dressed. He liked smutty stories and was a politician down to his toes. Aristocrats鈥擩eff Davis, Seward and their ilk鈥攄espised him, and indeed he had little outwardly that compelled respect. But in that curious human way he was big inside. He had reserves and depths and when habit and convention were torn away there was something left to Lincoln鈥攏othing to most of his contemners. There was something left, so that at the crisis he was big enough to be inconsistent鈥攃ruel, merciful; peace-loving, a fighter; despising Negroes and letting them fight and vote; protecting slavery and freeing slaves. He was a man鈥攁 big, inconsistent, brave man.