[cookcounty]

"The whole thing with Lincoln going to war was to preserve the Union. The slavery issue was not a factor at the time."

....and that is the reason why the real lyrics of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, sung as they marched to war, was

".....as He died to make men holy, let us die to make men hug."

[ReverendJames]

What part of "not a factor at the time" don't you understand? The slavery issue didn't come about until later. As far as the Battle Hymn of the Republic - "Christian symbolism of the triumph of Jesus over His enemies. Although Julia Ward Howe's (the author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic) intent in writing the lyrics may have been to imply that the North (the "Lord's army") was executing judgment on the South, similar to Lord executing judgment against sinners ..."

Read the whole thesis here: here