The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-04-23
A POET ON THE PLATFORM.
Walt Whitman as a Lecturer.
His Subject Abraham Lincoln's Death-The
Poets First View of the Great Presi-
dent-War Scenes-Uses of Lincoln's
Life and Death.

The poet Walt Whitman made his begin
ming as lecturer last night, at; Steck Hall.
in Fourteenth street. His subject was the
death of President Lincoln. He reads from
notes, sitting in chair, as ne is still much
disabled from paralysis. He desires engage
ments as reader of his Owl poems and as q
lecturer. The following was last nights
discourse:
Though by no means proposing to resume
the Secession war tonight, I would briefly
remind you, my friends. of the public con-
ditions preceding that contest. For 20 years,
and especially during the four or five before
the war actually began, the aspect of affairs
/ in the United States, though without
the flash Of military excitement, presents
more than the survey Of battle,
or any extended campaign, or series,
even of Natures conrulsions. The
hot passions of the South-the strange mix
ture at the North of inertia, incredulity and
conscious power-the incendiarism of the
Abolitionists-the rascality and grip of the
politicians, unparalleled in any land, any
age To these must not omit adding the
honesty of the essentia. bulk of the people
everywhere-yet with all the seethinp fury
and contradiction of their natures more
aroused than the Atlantic's waves in widest
equinox.
What could be more ominous Though gen.
orally unappreciated then)-what more sig
nifcant than the presidentIals of Fillmore
and Buchanan? proving conclusively that
the weakness and wickedness of elected rul-
ers, backed by our great parties, are Just as
likely to affiict us here, as in the countries
of the Old World, under their monarchies
emperors and aristocracies In that Old
World were everywhere heard underground
rumblings, that died out only again surely
to return. While in America the volcano,
though civic yet, continued to grow more
and more conyulsive more and more
stormy and threatening.
In the height of all this excitement and
chaos, lowering on the edge at first, and
then merged in its very midst, and destined
to play leading part, appears strange and
awkward figure.
shall not easily forget the first time I
ever saw Abraham Lincoln. 1t must have
been about the 18th or 10Th of February,
1861. 1t was rather pleasant afternoon in
New York City, as he arrived here from the
West, to remain few hours, and then pass
on TO Washington to prepare for his inaugu-
ration. / saw him in Broadway, near the
site of the present postofice. He came
down, I think. from Canal street, to stop
at the Astor House. The broad spaces
sidewalks and street in the neighborhood
and for some distance, were crowded with
solid masses of people-many thousands
The omnibuses and other vehicles had all
been turned off, leaving an unusual hush in
that busy part of the city. Presently two or
three shabby hack barouches made their
way with some difficulty through the crowd
and drew up at the Aston House en-
trance. A tall figure stepped out of the
center of these barouches, paused 1sisurely
on the sidewalk, looked up at the dark
granite walls and looming architecture of
the grand old hotel-then, after relieving
stretch of arms and legs, turned round for
over a minute to scan slowly and good
humoredly the appearance OF the vast and
silent crowds There were no speeches-no
COMPLIMENTARY Welcomes far as could
hear, not q word said. Still much anxiety
was concealed in that quiet Cautious per
SONS had feared some marked insult or in
dignity to the observation-disclosures he pos.
sessed no personal popularity at all in New
York City, and very little political. But 1t
was evidently tacitly agreed that if the few
entirely abstain from any demonstration on
their SIDE, the immense majority, who were
anything but supporters, would abstain on
their side also. The result was a suiky, I'M
broken silence, such as certainly never be-
fore characterized so great a New York
crowd.
Almost in the same neighborhood 1 dis
tinctly remember seeing Lafayette, on his
visit to America in 1925. I had also person
ally seen and heard how Andrew Jackson
| CIav
buster Walker, the prince of Wales on his
visit and other celebres native and foreign,
had been welcomed there, at various times
all that understandable human roar and
magnetism, unlike any other sound in the
universe, the glad, exulting thunder shouts
OF countless Embossed threats of menl But
on this occ .sion, not voice-not sound.
From the top of an omnibus driven up
one side, close by, and blocked by the curb
stone and the crowds) had, say, capital
view of it all, and especially of Mr.. Lincoln.
his look and gait, his perfect composure and
GOODNESS, his unusual and uncouth height,
his dress of complete black, stovepIpe hat
pushed back on the head. its dark brown
complication, scanned and wrinkled, yet
canny-lO0klng face, his black, bushy head OF
hair, disproportionately long neck, and his
hands held behind him, as he stood observing
the people. He looked with curiosity upon
that immense sea of faces, and the sea of
faces returned the look with similar curlos-
, ity. In both there was dash of comedy,
almost farce, such as Shakespeare puts in his
blacklist tragedies. The crowd that hemmed
around, consisted, should think, IT 10000
or &C, 600 men, not O single one his personal
friend. while l have no doubt ESQ frenzied
were the ferments of the time) many an
assassin's kife and pistol lurked in hip or
breast pocket there, ready, soor as break
and riot came.
But no break or riot came. The tall figure
, gave another relieving stretch or two OF
| arms and legs; then with moderate pace,
and accompanied by few unknown looking
persons. assembled the portico steps Of the
! Astor House, disappeared through its broad
entrance-and the dumb show ended
/ saw Abraham Lincoln often the four
! years following that date. He changed rap
! idly and much during his presidency.but