The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-26


general at the time that Fremont carried
Pennsylvania"
Il do"
do you believe that he was elected Presi-
dent?'
Il do"
do you believe that his inauguration as
President would have averted civil war;"
No"
"Did you know President Buchanan"
mo, nothing more than just by sight"
"Do you believe him to have been a square
man?'
Il believe him to have been a man of
honest intentions, but utterly unfit for the
times which found him. He had neither
courage nor any commanding discretion"
How do you regard Douglass
81 regarded Douglas as a very able man in
deed, but a dangerous man, because
did not think that he acted on great lines
but rather on the inner lines of political
expediency."
''You think he was thoroughly loyal
mann"
q think he was thoroughly loyal man"
do you think that the election of Presi-
dent Lincoln precipitated the re5ellion?'
YES"
you knew Lincoln?"
Very we'll"
'In sentence, what do you think of him?"
II think that Lincoln was to a remarkable
degree both a statesman and politician:
that he based his views of expediency on
great principles, but that in executing eX-
pedient objects he was as shrewd and keen a
politician as ever was in Washington. He
had a broad sympathy for human nature,
and he understood it very well. He was as
devoid of personal ambition and selfishness
as any man of whom we have record in our
history. He was man who wanted to do
haT w rio nd haSt "
patton, South and North, and was willing to
go as near to the edge of doubtful expediency
as man could go and not go over the preci-
pice; but he saved himself"
Whatever its effect upon the county
don't you think that his death and its man
ner ana at the time was a great thing Tor
him in history?"
YES, sir. think that hiscoffin was more
than the presidential chair. 1t certainly
gave to the whole of his career the influence
OF a kind of political saiutship."
LINcoLNs CoEcILIAToRY POLICY.
'.Do you believe that he would have car
ried out a different policy from that of john
son?'
Il know that at the time that things were
drawing to a contamination he had in an in
choate form, the very policy that Johnson
undertook to carry out under a change of
circumstances know it, because the Cleve-
land letter that / wrote was the result of
conferences with Governor Andrew and
President Lincoln, just preceding Lincoln's
death, as to what were to be the next coming
steps after the breaking down of the rebel
lion and at that time, under the circum-
stances it seemed to me that they had OH
the whole, very wise views. IT may be said
almost in a sentence what their policy was
1t was to say to the leading public men of
the South, Gentlemen, you took your section
out OF the Union; you must bring 1t back.
We hold you responsible We will give you
all the power necessary to do it. Slavery is
gone, and as you went out with these men
who have been defeated, now you must come
back and we will trust you"
Whom did you regard as the significant
men in our war-the political so-called gen.
erals; that is men like Butler, whose adj
ministrative qualities were called into use
or men like Grant, Sherman, Sheridan" ETC.?
''The West Point men were the abest men
and the most efficient men by all odds. With
one or two exceptions only were men who
became generals from civil life of any great !
noticeable success, Terry was and has re-
manned So a very able department COM
mander respected by all the army. Butler
was not a military man. Every military
element IN him failed"
What do you think of him as an admin
istrator?"
Under the circumstances, as an admins
traitor he was surprising You could not
have got better man for New Orleans
He was in his very element in the place
where his conscience worked in the direc-
ton of patriotism with remarkable shrewd-
ness and success"
did you work for Grant?'
First, middle and last and to this hour"
lyon regard him still as farorite with
the peopleY'
II am not in situation to determine that.
only know when his name is mentioned in
any large audience where | have been pres
ent he has carried the day with enthusiasm"
How do you account for his non-renom-
inationp"
There were too many candidates with too
strong backing. and all combined they de-
feated him. What the enthusiasm OF the
public is and what the enthusiasm of the po-
litical managers is are two different things"
''Dd you know Garfeldf'
Yes"
aside from his personality. do you be-
lieVe that lac started in giving promise of a
useful administration"
There is a great distinction between an
advocate and an administrator Garfield
was very able advocate. 1t remained to be
seen what he was as an administrator. He
was cut off too soon."
How do you and your friends feel about
President Arthur
81 cannot speak for my friends; but he has
improved upon my judgment every month
that he has been in the presidential chair
and / have now come to look with great sat
isfaction upon his general course, and feel
great hope for the future. His appointments
have been thoroughly good, and that is not
the best of 1t. These thoroughly good APP
pointments reflect back upon the disposition
and the purpose of the man himself. 1t
seems to me that he is really and honestly at
tempting to serve the whole country without
violating any pledge he has made to his own
party"
His Success Agrioulturist.
Mr. Beecher was recently invited to at