"with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as god gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." this excerpt from abraham lincoln's second inaugural address indicates that the president a) would be willing to use military force to ensure order and racial equality in the conquered south. b) laid blame for the conflict on the south and intended to collect reparations from the rebellious states. c) desired reconciliation and peace between the north and south and a smooth transition back into the union. d) believed that support from the british and french were key factors in the union victory over the rebellious southern states.