In which portion of this excerpt from his Second Inaugural Address does Abraham Lincoln express his conflicting views about the continuation of the war?
One elghth of the whole population were colored slaves, not distributed generally over the Union, but localized in the Southern part of it. These
slaves constituted a peculiar and powerful Interest. All knew that this interest was, somehow, the cause of the war. To strengthen, perpetuate,
and extend this Interest was the object for which the insurgents would rend the Union, even by war, while the government claimed no right to
do more than to restrict the territorial enlargement of it. Neither party expected for the war, the magnitude, or the duration, which it has
already attained. Neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease. Each looked
for an easier triumph, and a result less fundamental and astounding. Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His
ald against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of
other men's faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered that of neither has been answered
fully
Fondly do we hope --- fervently do we pray - that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue, until all
the wealth piled by the bond-man's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toll shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the
lash, shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord,
are true and righteous altogether"