TO expand on that: Lincoln was a mature speaker and writer with a marvelous command of the English language and a mastery of the pithy turn of phrase.
This read like something written by pajama boy.
Furthermore, in any reading I have done regarding Linclon, I have never seen that he had ANY concern with the issue of corporations garnering power. None.
In fact, I’ve never seen that it was an issue to anyone (not even the 19th century Communists) until well after Lincoln’s death.
Probably the best way to satisfy yourself as to answer (one way or another) is to read extensively of Lincoln’s life and writings (and I don’t mean on the internet)
For instance the biography of Abraham Lincoln (two volumes) by Carl Sandburg
If that quote is genuine, it will be in there.
I will do further checking. I have read Sandberg’s biography of Lincoln, but it was several years ago and to recall one small paragraph from such a large work is difficult for me.
I, like you, am also suspicious since I do not remember ever reading such a quote by Lincoln, and there are so many quotes attributed to him that it is sometimes hard to know which ones are genuine and which are either misquotes, or out and out frauds.
Just an update on that Lincoln “quote”. Check out this article and sources at:
Turns out your instincts were correct.