Why, in Lincoln’s view, is it not possible for the crowd to consecrate or hallow the cemetery?

In the Gettysburg Address, Lincoln says the living cannot “dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground.” He explains that the soldiers who fought there had already consecrated it “far above our poor power to add or detract.” Their sacrifice had made the cemetery sacred, so the correct choice is that the ground had already been hallowed by the dead.

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