New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-21
SPRINGFIELD. H., November "a, 1882

have left OF Mr.. Lincoln's; it is a genuine one
written by the great man himself. nave Kept me
letter up to TINS day as an evidence that MI LIN,
coin was not an atheist; aud had he been one, that
TACT would not lessen him IN my estimation, tnough
not one myself. had this ter once published,
but before so dong showed IL 70 sev ng pa mt
tor my credulity in believing that Mr. Lincoln Ds-
leyed in Immortality and Hcayen. a. stated In tho
letter; 1t was said to be merely message OF con
ISOLATION from a dutiful son to MS diving tather.
However, had the letter pnblshed' ana kept the
letter as an evidence that Mr. Lincoln was not an
atheist. | could have gwen the lettcr away many
times-coud have sold 1t for money-but would
not part with 1t. | think the question oil MS atne-
Ism is settled. and now present 1t TO you. l may
say TO YOU that the letter has the ring IL seems 10
mo OF true metal and yet give no opinion. lou
have the letter and the facts OF Mt Lncolns ire
before you, and you can judge as well as can
will in this letter give you Phase oil MI LIN
coins life not generally known. anu possibly ~
will not he believed by the wOIshpplng world
hero-worshipping world. nave no reference
to the worship of the religious SOUL
Mr. Lincoln Tor years supported OF helped to
support his aged father and mother; 1T 10 TO The
honor Of Lincoln that ne dearly ioVea ms sup s
mother and 1t il equally true that she doi.zed her
step-son johnson, whom the letter - addressed
WAS Llnc0lns step-broiher- the son OF MIS-. Lincoln
by her first husband. Thomas Lincoln, the lHlhei
of AbIauam courted his second wife in his youth
she refused to have him: no then Ccurted Nancy
Hanks and was married to her; a man 10y tue
name OF Johnson courted Miss Sarah bnSh- hOmas
Lincoln's first flame and married her. About the
wear 1919 both Mrs. Lincoln aud Nr. johnson dle1.
Lincoln then III about one year again reueWeu MS
SUIT and it was accepted, aud they were married
Each had two chiluTen by the first marriage ana
none by the second. John johnson was an lndolent
and shlitless man. a man that was born tlreo
aud vet lac was exceedingly clover man, geuer-
Gus and very hOspltable. Lincoln deserves great
credit for the care shown hi father aud mother
hard cash and warm heart.care In the very letter
which | give Won this care ~ shown; he says IN
the letter: d" YUu johnson already know desire
that neither father nor mot or shaI be III want OF
any comfort. either in health or III sickness while
I'M live. |
to use my name. if necessary, to procure doctor or
anything else for father III his present sickness
Dutifnl and aiiectiOnato son Noble nan Mr.
Lincoln was very poor at tho time this letter was
written not worth in property, more than three or
four thousand dollars.
sir. Lincoln purchased piece OF property in
Coles County in this State rs home for his father
and mother and hid il decided In trust Tor their use
and benefit The aged couple lived IN GoirH county
NJ the time do not now recOllect all the particu-
lara and yet once did The records IN Coles
County will show the facts II anyone III the future
wishes 10 look the thing further up Here Is eAhb-
tied parental love anu duty. bac ked mp by warm
Affection care, good credit. land, home and money
This was true and genuine comfort ana material
AID. IL was not all gush, sympathy aud tears on
oa per II was real solid, genuine comfort and sup
port. auoh we eau 1--we upon. -
now wish To give you phase of Mr.. Llncon's
llfo which is not generally known, nor Will IT be
believed readily by the multitude and yet II VIII
10 true 10 the letter and the spirit OF Ills 49, lie
Was said 10 he n very slnple-mnded man, devoid
of The silences and ambitions OF life. In this CITY
he was known only to tho few. would advise you
before gon read thus letter to read Hollands Liie
Of IiocoIn . nj pages 2Il-2 where you will find
o. idea. Of Mr. Lincoln Consider II IN
serted here. Mr.. Lincoln was Thought, as before
stated, to be u very supplemented nian' lie was
simple IN his dress and manners, simple IN MS APP
nroaeb ami in his presence. Though tnls be true, no
vas n man of quite Infinite silences. lilo was thor
oughly aud deeDly secretive' uhc0mhiuulcatNe
and close minded TO his plans, wishes, hopes aud
fears HIS amhltIOl VAS never satisfied IN him II
was consnmina ire which smoihered his liner leo-
Tags. Here he ran for every Legislative once iIom
,frur flanl LIS
Gency uud during all that time venture To say
that he never wholly opened himself 10 mortal
crratuie He was scepticai, cautious and terribly
secIetive, conhding his plans and purposes, ambi-
lions and ends to no man. j have Known men IN
our Office to listen to Mr. Lincolns conversation Ter
a short while and then oxclaim: On, Wjat
simDle minded man is MIR. Lincoln So plain 80
unambitous! 80 coniding| and the Ike when Nh
Lincons mind WAS not in our ONCE but on IA not
chase for the end so dcyOutly 10 be wished VI
ALI Americans ho was most alphabetically, nlan OF
the profounlest, wildcat and deepest policies. lie
had his burning and his consuming AMBITION but
he kept his secTets and opened not.
An interviewer with the best OF intentions IN the
world oncr went 70 Mr.. Lncoln's room III tho
White House while ho was PRESIDENT, ana sad
q Mr. President what do you think OF the war and
its end 7" To which Mr.. Lincoln polltely and
lauphngIy replied THAT question OF yours puts
mo in mind OF astory about son9thlns wncn 10, h 1aP
pened down in Egypt. In the southern part OF Hi
nos" The point oil 10 WIS that man badly burned
his fingers in being in too much haste Mr.. Lin,
coin told the story admirably we'll. walking up aud
down tile room and most heartily laughing all The
while The interviewer saw the point coming at
him like the sting end OF hornet AS matter oil
ronrss he vas cut Ia the quick, ana quickly DOWN
stairs he rushed with AN oath IN his mouth, saving
he would " ne y or interview that man again. lie
was as good as his word, ana never tf'ed 10 inter
,isw tho President again Aud thus u always was
with Mr.. Lincoln. The man that 'ried 10 pump
him always found IA shut safe. we'll locked anu Tue
ksy lost. II n man was ever croat d III TINS w0fid
Who djd not let his right hand know what his left
hand did or was doing. IL was Abrunaui LIhooiu'
He was a profound. marvellous ana inyslerlon'
man TO the great majority OF men. JndRuu the
man Inv hi, Guest,onngs his manner, his nervous
ness his unrest and the play OF hIs features with
their coors. giving asgnihcance TO nis thoughts
and his wishes. a mind's revelation 10 hihu
While say that Mr. Lincoln was AMBITIOUS. Sc
creive and somewhat selish do not INFER from thoso
words that he was dishonest man, nor an lhsncero
man nor a hypOcrite, nor mean man, nor n oase
man iie was. the contrary. full OF honesty, IN
togrity, sincerity. open, fair and candid. when
speaking or acting, lie was Tor Lincoln a,"n m
Lincoln wise man. shrewd man, long
headed man, full of his policies. lie was a
marginal man. always leaving wide blank on his
nnner so that the future might write the future
lessons thereon. Mr. Liucon hated speculation
had no cranks. was not visionary ami lmpractl-
cable lie had relatively no Imagination and no
fancy was material aud purely practical. lie had
one of the very best balanced heads IN America;
and it was poised we'll on his shoulders. Henry
CLAW was his ideal statesman, purely material and
practical nan. Mr.. Lncoln's mind was purely
IacaI and he followed his conclusions to the ulti'
NATE end though the world porishrd. L never
heard MIR Lincoln harshy condemn any man, nor
did j ever lear HIM praise but two men one,
Tn,m,. Jef.rson on paper and the other. Henry
Claw. In hi, speech and letters and in his heart.
Was this jealousy or WHAT think he cared for
principles and not much for men. especially II he
fij not want Ia uss them for his own ends, which
were generally high and noble, Mr. Lincoln had
no low cunning. was not trickster, mere wire;
puller lie scorned and ,ietosted all such political
Arts. His mind required and lived IN facts. ngures
and principles He was destitute or faith which
comes and goes without evidence. his own reason
and human experience were his authority ana
these only with him were authority.
II is fact that Mr.; Lincoln was : peculiar man.
the world Generally | was with him for about
Twenty-Five years; and I think knew him we'll
Mr. Lincoln never took the advice OF any man or
set OF men generally speaking. he never asked
the opinion OF advice OF any man. lie was SELF
reliant self poised sef-hepng and self assertive,