Read these sentences from the speech. 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 aid against the other.

What is Lincoln’s purpose in these sentences?

to highlight his belief that one side is to blame for the conflict and to provide evidence for this assertion

to demonstrate that both sides have played an equal part in the conflict and they are more alike than they are different

to convey his understanding of the conflict as based on differences in religion rather than moral or economic issues

to assert that both sides have made every effort to compromise but the conflict has grown too unmanageable to contain