The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-26
The Acerobatic Performances of Pros
idenI Lincoln.

n passing judgment upon Mr.. LINCoI.Ns po-
htical acts and opinions, we think an un-
fortunate disposition exists to overlook, if not
entirely ignore the peculiar and anomalous po-
sition which that distinguished gentleman oc
cupies. We are all agreed in recognizing in
the President those qualities, which constitute
him an accomplished slight-of-hand man, who,
having set up his stall in Vanity Fair is pre-
pared at all times to puzzle you as to the Thin
bic under which the q little joker" lies.
Having temporarily relinquished this part of
his profession Gin the prosecution of which he
acquired the soubriquet Of honest Old AEE) to
the little villain who presides over the dcs-
TIMES of the New York Daily Times Mr.. LIN
coin now appears before his audience in the
much more startling and perilous character OF
an ACROBAT, in the act of riding two horses.
The faculties of sustaining himself in this
character, are such as appeal to the charities
and eympathies of all well-disposed individu-
ais. Nor can we unkindly criticize q man,
who is gyrating in the political circus, with
one foot on the Constitution of his country,
and the other On the Baltimore Platform. Is
he not doing all for amusement? And il
honest Old ABE insists upon dancing, is it not
perfectly right that IRE should pay the fiddler:
We do not think anybody will presume to dis
pute the justice of this assertion unless it be
some miserable aboitionist like BEN WADE, or
such a diplomatic failure as HORACE GREELEY.
We have all paid our fifty cents 10 see the
show, and we must be pleased and behave until
the show is over. If Constitution gets FESTIVE
and kicks mp behind, we need not entertain
any ill-timed fears regarding the safety OF the
rider, who will Immediately pass his cousti'u-
tiona leg over to baltimore, and keep up the
gallop until it is perfectly safe to ''put his
foot down again.
This vexations position which our noble
President is unfortunately obliged to fill. sufti-
cently accounts for the successive mortifca.
tons he has to undergo, and reminds us that
we must be magnanimOus. When he issues
bulletin addressed Ito whom it may concern.
under which inscription the playful and hui
morous character of the writer may be distinct
" discerned, we take it for granted that it may
concern Us and though We are not given.
like some peopie, to opening other ScntiemenS
letters we do not hesitate TO read the cpiStlc Of
honest Old ace.
II, upon reading this witty and curious doe
ument, we find that it does concern u>, We en-
ercise our right to examine it more closely.
We discover ut once that Mr. LINCOLN Is not
merely Il great wit, but great statesman, In
asmuch AS he has originated the art Of telling
the enemy what he shall do before you ncgo-
tate with him. He says to his friend JEFF.
DAVIS. III treat with you, certainly. but be-
fore treat with you, I'll make it impossible
for you to treat with ne; and on these con-
| ditions I'm prepared to treat and Wen both
| treat together" As he says this, that noble
| animal. Constitution, who does not sec the
| Joke gets little FESTIVE, and the distinguished
| accroba, transfers himself to Baltimore who
| "allops easy and has nice platform ON his
| hack From which we learn that it is possible
| FIR honest ABE 10 treat with that rascally JEFF
| DAVIS. from the standpoint of the Baltimor,
n,alfor,n only, which lays it down as Il sine PIC
nm that the national safety demands The ute
and complete determination of slavery from
~. soil of the republic Let Mr.. JEFF
n.v,s or any ether individual, whom it ma
concern" put this in his pipe and smoke it.
Again, we see that the little villain" of tn
Nm York Times, in the pursuit of his favort