Question

what does lincoln mean when he says "neither anticipated that the cause of the conflict might cease with, or even before, the conflict itself should cease”(lines 30-32)

Answer 1

This is a fragmant of President Lincoln´s speech of March 4th, 1865, during his second inaugural address, in which he  refers to the Civil War. Due to the tone of the message, is evident that President Lincoln wants to send a general message of reconciliation and peace. This is evidnet in the cited lines, in which he is trying to explain that after all, the outcome of the war couldn´t really be anticipated by any of the parties, particularly in the lenght and magnitude of the war.