The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-15
WHY CAMERON LEFT LLNCOLNS
OABINET

TtH letter of Hon. A. X Mcclure, giving
n version of the causes of Cameron retirement
from Linooln's Cabinet which differs widely
from that contained in the article contributed
by Senator Wilson to the atlantic Monthly,
has attracted no little attention. It has been
republished, in whole or part, by number
of our contemporaries, and wide circulation
has been given to its statements. On the
other hand, our correspondent at Washington
telaQraphs us that Cameron pronounces the
letter false in all its particulars, and the Press
of this morning contains Washington special
declaring that Hon. s. p. Chase fully endorses
the statements made by Senator Wilson. We
are thus furnished with new instance Of the
old saying that the posthumous reputation of
great men depends upon their biographers.
The life of Lord Byron, as written by Harriet
Beecher Stowe, would present a decided con-
trast to the work on the same subj ject which was
issued by Tom Moore. William B. Reeds tale
of his grandfather differs widely from stories
told by other authors. And Simon Cameron's
history, as given by Mr.. Mcclure, would con-
vey to posterity an impression of the ex-
Secretary of War widely different from that
which they would receive from the statements
of his eulogists. Senator Wilson has said
that the criticisms of the conduct OF
Senator Cameron, while he was War
Minister, were "harsh and generally
undeserved:" that his resignation was
o voluntary act, prompted by a patriotic
motive, and made on condition that 'some
one should be appointed not unfriendly to his
policy" and that he is entitled to the credit
of selecting Mr.. Stanton as his successor-al
of which statements are substantially denied
by Mr.. Mcclure. The truth of history and
Cameron's reputation are at stake in this
controversy, and now since it has been COM
menced, all the facts bearing upon it should
be made known to the public. If Cameron
was kicked out of the Cabinet, and if the
correspondence published about that time was
o mere plaster to heal his wounds, the
nation should not be humbugged
into the belief that he was
one of the best of the good, and one of
the greatest of the great, men of the grandest
epoch of American history. AS the case now
j stands, we have, first, Senator Wilson as q
witness on the one side second, Hon
A. x. MoOlures positive denial on the other
and third, contradictions of Mr.. Mcclure by
Cameron, which are said to be sustained by
Mr.. Chase. Under these circumstances, if
Mr.. Mcclure has additional evidence to offer,
il should be forthcoming, SO that his posi-
tion may be strengthened against the assaults
of his adversaries. If he can show that Lin.
coln had good and sufficient reasons foi
summarily ejecting Cameron from the Cabinet,
his own positive testimony will thereby be
fortified. If it shall appear that the Congress
of the United States, containing large ma
jority of Republican members, virtually de-
manded his removal, on account of alleged
completely with extraordinary appropriations
of public money by Colonel Alexander Cum
mings, of straw-hat, mackerel, and white-pan
falcons notoriety, or for other reasons, Mr.
McClure's evidence will be strongly corrobo
rated. The controversy will prove fruitless il
it is finally closed before the people know de-
fnitely whether a niche among the saints is
to be awarded to Cameron, or whether he il
to be ranked among the sinners.