Stevens County tribune., 1879-11-27
THE BOGUS PROCLAMATION.
air. Joseph Howard's Explanation of Ho,
lie Came to Write 1t.
rFrorn the New York Evening Telegram !

He Came to Write It
rFrom the New York Evening TeIegram.l
During Mr.. Howard's 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 never
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
gloom over the entire country. MIR.
Howard, sitting in his Office, said: 81
wonder what would do if we're Pres
ident of the United States? These
disasters are substantial, and, If long
continued, will work ruin. This is
religious country and a 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, 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, rs 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 its 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 q proclamation from the Presi-
dent of the United States, first narrating
these defeats and disasters, and, second,
appointing day of fasting and prayer.
| In other worda, ha took the people
with him into the valley of humiliation.
Then he called for SOC, 900 men between
the ages of 18 and 45, with whom to
subdue the enemies of the republic.
This was signed by Abraham Lincoln"
and William FL. Seward" Before each
name was written the word @Signed,"
indicating that it was copy of a pro-
clamation. This, on manifold paper,
was sent from the Eagle Office by Mr..
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 number of
unforeseen circumstances combined to
prevent its universal circulation; and,
although it was printed in three papers,
80 far as the public was concerned il
appeared in but two-the World and
| Journal of Commerce. The Govern
ment instantly and arbitrarily sup
pressed them and put an armed force
before their doors, thereby magnifying
into grave and serious matter a bur.
lesque, which in any other time would
have passed with q laugh and joke.
Good judges, notably Mr.. Raymond, OF
The New York Times, insisted that Mr.
Howard had inside information Of q
proclamation of similar nature about
to 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 q burlesque
pure and simple, in which there was nc
treason, and, although serious procla
J nation was issued not very long after
the author of the burlesque knew moth
ing Of it beforehand whatever.