River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-03-01
NEW VIEWS OF LINCOLN.


NEW VIEWS OF LINCOLN.
A Letter From His Law Partner-A
Close Insight Into Lincoln's Aspir-
ations, Methods, Philosophy and
Religion-A Letter OF Mr.. Lin
coins.
The following letter, published in the
New York Tribune of January 2lst, was
written by Abraham Lincoln's former
| law partner to well-known clergyman
| of San Francisco. 1t gives a touching
| picture of the stateman's affection for
his parents and solicitude for their wei
fare, and exhibits some phases of his
career as a public MIN that have not
| been hitherto revealed. References are
made to letter from Mr.. Lincoln to his
step-brother, which was inclosed
in Mr.. Herndon's letter, and a copy of
which is also herewith given:
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,. November "a. 1882.
My DEAR SIR: A few days since / re-
ceived your kind note, for which please
accept my thanks. Enclosed you will
find letter from Abraham Lincoln to
John D. Johnson-Lincoln's step broth
er-which 1 promised to give you; it is
the only letter which have left of Mr..
Lincoln's; it is genuine one written by
the great man himself / have kept the
letter up to this day as an evidence that
Mr. Lincoln was not an atheist, and had
he been one, that fact would not lessen
him in my estimation, tn ugh not one
myself had this letter once published,
but before so doing I showed it 20
several OF Mr.. .Lincoln's old and dear
friends, who laughed at me for my cred
ulityin believing that Mr.. Lincoln believ-
ed in Immortality and heaven, as stated
in the letter; it was said to be merely a
message of consolation from a dutiful
son to his dying father. However, |
had the letter published, and kept the
letter as an evidence that Mr.. Lincoln
was not an atheist. | could have given
the letter away many times-could have
sold it for money-but / would not part
with il. think the question of his ath-
eism is settled and now | present it to
you. / may say to you that the letter
has the ring, it seems to ne, of true
metal, and yet / give no opinion. You
have the letter and the facts of Mr.. Lin
coins life before you, and you can Judge
as well as | can. | will soon inthis letter
give you phrase of Mr. Lincoln's life
not generally known, and, possibly, it
win not be believed by the worshipping
world mean worshipping world
have no reference TO the worship of
the religious soul.
"Mr. Lincoln for years supported or
helped to supprt his aged father ana
- ., sxET L..
that he dearly loved his step-mother,
and it is equally true that she idolized
her step-sOn. Johnson, to whom the
letter is addressed, was Lincoln's step
brother-the son OF Mrs. Lincoln by her
first husband. Thomas Lincoln, the
father of Abraham, courted his second
wife in his youth; she refused to have
him; he then courted Nancy Hanks and
was married to her. A man by the name
of Johnson courted Miss Sarah Bush
Thomas LIneoln's first ffame-and mar
ried her. About the year 1919 both
Mrs. and Mr.. Lincoln died Lincoln
then in about a year renewed his suit
and it was accepted and they were mar
ried. Each had two children by the first
marriage aud none by the second. John
johnson was an INDECENT and shiftless
man, man who was 'born tired" and
vet he was an exceedingly clever man,
generous and very hos 1itable. Lincoln
deserves great credit for the care shown
his father and mother-hard cash and
warm heartcare. In the very letter
which give you this care is shown; he
saws in the lettar: You (Johnson) al
ready know / desire that neither father
nor mother shall be in want of any COM
fort, either in health or in sickness,
while they live: and feel sure that you
have not failed to use my name, if nee
essary, to procure doctor or anything
else for father In his present Sickness
Dutiful and affectionate son! Noble mani
Mr.. Lincoln was very poor at the time
this letter was written, and not worth in
property more than S., 900 or 81 900.
"Mr. Lincoln purchased q piece of
property in Coles county, in this state,
as home for his father and mother,
and had it decided in trust for their use
and benefit. The aged couple lived in
Coles county at the time. do not now
recollect all the particulars, and yet |
once did. The records in Coles county
will show the facts, if any one in future
wishes to look the thing further up
Here is exhibited parental love and
duty, backed up by warm affection, care,
good credit, land, home and money.
This was true and genuine comfort
and material aid. 1t was not all gush,
sym fathy and tears on paper; it was
real, solid genuine comfort and support,
such as we can live upon.
al now wish to give you phase OF
Mr.. Lincoln's life which is not generally
known, nor wilih believed readily by the
multitude: and yet it will be true to the
letter and the spirit of his life. He was
said to be very supplemented man,
devoid of the silence and ambitions of
life. In this city he was known only to
the few. | woul advise you before YOU
read this let ter to read Hollands Life oil
Lincoln, at page 24l ,, where You VIII
find many diverse ideas OF Mr.. Lincoln.
Consider it inserted here. Mr.. Lincoln
was thought, as before stated, to be a
very supplemented man. He was
simple in his dress and manner, simple
in his approach and in his presence.
Though this be true, he was man of
quite infinite silences. He was thorough
" and deeply secretiye, uncommunica-
tive and close minded as to his
plans, wishes, hopes and fears. His
ambition was never satisfied; in him it
was a consuming fire which smothered his
finer feelings Here he ran for every
legislative office, from the trusteeship OF
our little village to the presidency, and
during that time, ventured to say that
he never fully opened himself to mortal
creature He was sceptical, eautiou;
and terribly seeretive. confiding hrs
plans ana purposes, ambluons anG eufs.
to no man. have known men in our
office to listen to Mr.. Lincoln's converse
ton for short while and then exclaim:
ooh, what simple-minded man is Mr..
Lincolnl So plain so unambitiousl so
confiding' and the like, when Mr..
Llncoln's mind was not in our office,
but on hot chase for the end. so de-
votely to be wished. OF all Americans
he was, most emphatically, man of the
profoundest, widest and deepest policies.
lie had his burning and his consuming
ambition, but he kept his secrets and