Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-10-11
From the Rochester Democrat.


Radical Press-Curious statements-Out-
bursts OF Moral Wrath Against Wo-
II
Mrs. Lincoln, the widow of the murdered
{ President, has made an exhibition of her
self through the columns of the New York
World, which we are sorry to see for her
own sake and that of her family. She has
l ostentatiously sent to New York for sale
: certain articles of her wardrobe, such as
camels ha.r shawls, varying IN value from
three hundred and fifty to fifteen hundred
dollars, point lace shawls, worth two thou
sand dollars, and a dress OF the same ma
: terial valued at four thousand dollars, fu1
, cape at fifteen hundred dollars, a fur boa
at twelve hundred, together with diamonds,
&c, to the total value of twenty-four thou
sand dollars She pleads poverty as the
: reason for disposing of these articles, and
authorizes The World to state that her in
come Is but 81, 70G year, and she also au-
thoriZes the publication of her letters to
the broker in New York to whom she has
consigned the articles for sale. In this
correspondence and in her conversations
with The World reporters, she complains
bitterly Of the country and of the Republic
can party, and especially Of Messrs Sew
ard, Weed and Raymond tor not providing
for her "rightful maintenance as she
terms it. These three gentlemen are the
only ones she names, probably because
they are the most unpopular she eau think
of, and she declares that &c the late Presi-
dent thoroughly tested these men and had
become fully aware before his death of their
treachery and falseness''
This is sad, very sad-but it is none of our
) funeral. We are not responsible as Re
publcans for MesSrs. Seward Weed and
Raymond, who have forfeited all claims
4l,<..
could to destroy it, though the last of the
trio has had the grace to confess his fault
and to return after dubious fashion to his
allegiance. But bad politicians and recre-
ant republicans as they are, Messrs. Sew
ard, Weed and Raymond are assuredly gen
temen, and we are confident can never
| have treated Mrs. Lincoln otherwise than
with courtesy and delicacy. Her fling at
them is doubtless a mere ebullition Of feni-
nine spite Her letters are coarse and yul-
gar; from their publication refined woman
would have shrunk with horror The whole
proceeding Is obviously mercenary adj
yertlslng dodge to advance the sale Of the
articles sent to New York. The prices af-
fixed to these articles are sufficient to refute
Mrs. Lincoln's plea Of poverty If she is
poor, 1t Is because she has wasted her re-
sources III the purchase Of articles Of luxury
to which she had no claim. What business
had she with lace dresses worth four thou
sand dollars each or with four camel's
hair shawls worth two thousand dollars. or
with furS worth thousands? Iu the first of
| the letters, where she falsely assumes the
name Of Mrs. Clarke, she states that these
articles were presents from her friends.
We do not believe it. She has been ex-
travagant, and must take the consequences.
! She has layished the money given to her
! by the nation on diamonds, furs and iaces,
and II she has seventeen hundred dollars a
| year lett, she has enough for q woman Of
her education and social position Her
conduct during her husbands life was not
such as to commend her very strongly to
public favor, and this extremely undinni-
fled correspondence and its very indelicate
! publication have deprived her of all further
claims to consideration Or respect.
Ifrom the Albany Journal
| we publSh to-day a Scathing common
! tary by the New York Commercial Adver-
tiser upon the recent movements OF Mrs.
Lincoln, in connection with the sale of sur
! plus Articles from her wardrobe and her
IJeWelry. 1t is very severe but public
opinion Will pronounce it just. 1t is diff
cult III such case as this to speak in de-
served terms of the misbehaviOr of an in
dlvldual, more especially when that indi-
vldual IS a woman, and one who has by
virtue or hef connections occupied the eX-
alted position Of First Lady of the Repub-
lie. But 1t cannot be disguised that in the
course she has seen fit to adopt, Mrs. Lin
coin has dishonored her country. herself
and her lamented husband 1t is imDossi |
bic to think without chagrin and NORTH |
cation of the criticisms which will be pro- |
nounced upon our character abroad in view |
of this spectacle-the widow of the Presi-
dent hawking her surplus apparel and with |
a view to creating q market for her wares |
charging her countrymen with meanness |
and lngratitude, and threatening to make |
revelation of personal secrets, unfavorable |
to those who have beer prominent in pub |
lie affairs By this conduct, Mrs. Lincoln |
invites and justifes animadversions upon
herself. She suggests inquiry respecting !
her career as mistress OF the White House, |
and as to the methods IN which she became |
possessed OF the magnificent articles which |
are now offered for sale. And she revives |
the whisperings which prevailed during the |
lifetime of her husband, that Mr. Lincoln |
III his great mission was not aided and |
blessed by the wlaest and best of wives. -
Congress voted to Mrs. Lincoln the sum of
$4,000. In addition to this she had some
property, which was accumulated by her
husband in the practice of his legal profes-
sion. She herself says that besides own
ing comfortable home, she enjoys an in
come of 81, 700 year A woman Of native
pride and modesty, gifted with tact and
prudence IN management, would live very
handsomely upon this sum. There are
many widows, whose husbands fell upon
the field of battle, who would be very
thankful to receive ene-third as MUCH
Mrs. Lincoln has not therefore the pea of
necessity to warrant her most unfortunate
exhibitions. The American people are
never disposed'to be ungenerous They
would not permit the widow or children of
their martyr President to suffer. But it
does not follow that they are under any
obligation to encourage tastes aud habits
OF extravaganza, or to SO enrich Mrs Lin
coin that she may enjoy in a private sphere
those luxnries which she was able to com
mand as mistress of the White House.
From the Pittsburg (Pa) Commercial
In the New York World we find an ex-
traord1nary series Of letters concerning Mrs.
Lincoln and her wardrobe. We scarcely .
know how to characterize the spirit of these
letters Or the taste that dictated their pub
frct >q h.. II |