Governor can't escape Virginia's past

Seeking to avoid controversy on a painful subject, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell this week issued a proclamation on Confederate History Month that failed even to mention the word "slavery." So much for avoiding controversy.

David Frum

On Nov. 10, 1864, Abraham Lincoln addressed a group of well-wishers after his re-election.

“What has occurred in this case must ever recur in similar cases. Human nature will not change. In any future great national trial, compared with the men of this, we shall have as weak, and as strong; as silly and as wise; as bad and good. Let us, therefore, study the incidents of this, as philosophy to learn wisdom from, and none of them as wrongs to be revenged.”

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David Frum is editor of FrumForum.com and the author of six books, including most recently COMEBACK: Conservatism That Can Win Again. In 2001 and 2002, he served as speechwriter and special assistant to President George W. Bush. In 2007, he served as senior foreign policy adviser to the Rudy Giuliani presidential campaign.