Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-23
THE BOGUS PROCLAMATION.
Mr.. Joseph Towards Explanation of How
He Camo to Write 1t.


He Camo to Write 1t.
from the New York Evening Telegram]
During Mr.. Towards editorship of
the news department. of the Brooklyn
Eagle he wrote what has passed into
history as the Bogus Proclamation"
the true inwardness of which has neve,
been told. The fact, as we understand
it, was this: The Union armies were in
trouble. Disaster and defeat were rap
idly depicting the Union ranks. Grants
disastrous encounters in the Wilderness
and the signal humiliation of Banks
upon the Red river were sending q
gloom over the entire country. Mr..
Howard, sitting in his office, said: 81
wonder what I would do if were Pres
ident of the United States? These
disasters are substantial, and, if long
continued, will work ruin. This is a
religious country and sentimental
people. First of all I would affect that
element by acknowledging the folly of
our course, and ask the Supreme Ruler
OF the universe to direct our path.
Second, I would call out sufficient
number of men to put down the re-
bellion inside of sixty days." It will be
remembered that Mr.. Lincoln was in
the habit of calling for small INSTALL
ments Of troops, 900 and 100000, and
that the odious system of draft had
created disturbances here which result
ed in murder, pillage, outrage and pub
lie scandal. It occurred to Mr.. Howard
that in no way could lesson be better
taught than by burlesque so extreme
in it's nature as to attract attention, upon
which the needed criticism on the exist
ing state of affairs would necessarily be
made. He therefore wrote what purport-
ed to be proclamation from the Presi-
dent of the United States, first narrating
these defeats and disasters, and, second,
appointing a day of fasting and prayer.
In other words, he took the people
with him into the valley of humiliation.
Then he called for 5OO,O 900 men between
the ages of Is and As, with whom to
subdue the enemies of the republic.
This was signed by "Abraham Lincoln"
and William 81. Seward" Before each
name was written the word "Signed,"
indicating that it was copy of pro-
clamation. This, on manifold paper,
was sent from the Eagle Office by MIR.
Howard to every newspaper in the city
of New York, in the full belief that it
would be published in every paper in
that city. Accident and a number Of
unforeseen circumstances combined to
prevent its universal circulation; and,
althoug h it was printed in three papers,
so far as the public was concerned it
appeared in but two-the World and
Journal of Commerce. The Govern
ment instantly and arbitrarily sup
pressed them and put all armed force
before their doors, thereby magnifying
into grave and serious matter bur
lesque, which in any other time would
have passed with laugh and joke.
Good judges, notably MIR. Raymond, of
the New York Times, insisted that Mr..
Howard had inside information of a
proclamation of a similar nature about
10 be issued. The Government, on the
other hand, insisted upon it that it was
part of Southern conspiracy and
treated it SO, arbitrarily sending the
author to Fort Lafayette. It was born
of an honest desire to teach much
needed lesson. It was burlesque,
pure and simple, in which there was no
treason, and, although serious procla-
nation was issued not very long after,
the author of the burlesque knew moth
ing of it beforehand whatever.