Oozle - we are going to have to talk about this in detail. I have it on good authority that Lincoln was in fact diametrically opposed to socialism. Shall we talk about his faith in God and how that influenced his views on politics? Or we can do that later.
Lincoln and Marx wrote a great many letters back and forth. And do not forget, at the time the Republicans were the "Radical Revolutionary Liberal" party.
But here, let's play a little game. Which of the following quotes do you think was made by President Lincoln, and which by Karl Marx?
1. I affirm as my conviction that class laws, placing capital above labor, are more dangerous to the Republic at this hour then chattel slavery in the days of its haughtiest supremacy. Labor is prior to and above capital, and deserves much higher consideration.
2. Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration. Capital has its rights, which are as worthy of protection as any other rights.
3. And inasmuch as most good things are produced by labour, it follows that all such things of right belong to those whose labour has produced them. But it has so happened in all ages of the world, that some have labored, and others have, without labour, enjoyed a large proportion of the fruits. This is wrong, and should not continue. To secure to each labourer the whole product of his labour, or as nearly as possible, is a most worthy object of any good government.
And do not forget, this was when Socialism had yet to be influences of the more radical Marx. As so many do, you are confusing Socialism (especially in the traditional sense) with Marxism.
Socialism by itself does not demand revolution, or the rejection of religion. In fact, the earliest Socialist movements in most of Europe and the US were all based upon religion. The Shakers, the Quakers, the Amana Colony, and a great many more. All were Socialist Communes, and based on religion.
Its very important to understand Lincoln as the definitive conservative of his day. Without this critical understanding an accurate perception of American politics to follow is not possible. You don't think the act of "freeing the slaves" was a move made by socialist, do you?
Oh no, no, no, no, no! If you think that, then you are completely and utterly wrong.
In that era (and into the 1960's), the Republicans were always the wild, reactionary party. The ones not afraid of revolution, who fought a civil war to end slavery, who under Teddy Roosevelt fused the Sherman Anti-Trust Act to reign in the excesses of corporations, and also under TR enacted the Pure Food and Drug Act, which led to the creation of the FDA.
Lincoln and most of his supporters were the "Radical Liberals" of the era, and it was the Democrats that were the "Reactionary" ultra-Conservatives. The only reason that they appear to be Conservative now is that in the 1960's the Democrats largely imploded and made a hard shift to the Left.
The newspaper considered to be the "Mouthpiece of the Republicans" was the New York Tribune, edited by Horace Greeley. And Karl Marx was a frequent writer for that paper. And the letters between the President and Marx were often delivered by the US Ambassador to England, Charles Francis Adams (son and Grandson of 2 Presidents).
If you think Lincoln was a Conservative, you need to look into him a bit more. He was far from a Conservative.