The Portland daily press., 1884-04-15
Rnhart r. LINCOLN.

The New York Tribune publishes letter
from Washington containing what purports
TO be statement by an intimate friend of
Secretary Lincoln's views with respect
to the free use that is made of his name in
connection with the nominations to be made
by the Republican National convention.
This friend says that Mr.. Lincoln does not
want to be nominated for Vice President,
that he recognizes that to be given the sec
ond place would be to shut him off from flu
ture political preferment He says fur
ther that Mr. Lincoln's short term of official
life has awakened in him desire to distin-
guish himself in political affairs, that he
h.aaz-suh orfactlr we'll the relue Of his mama
and that there is no danger of its prestige
becoming less in the lapse of time, and he is
very much disinclined to cheaper his inner
itance by accepting nomination to an office
which gives man no opportunity of win
ming distinction, while it commonly ends his
political career.
1t would not be strange If thoughts like
these were engaging the attention of the
Secretary of War. Doubtless he knows that
the prestige of his name is what the politi-
clans want him for, and that nothing that
he has himself done would cause him to
be thought of for place on the national
ticket. We have no question that Mr. Lin
coin is a gentleman of ability and worth /;
but when one comes to think seriously of
the proposition to make him the candidate
for President or Vice President of party
which has no lack of eminent statesmen, it
seems far more like running for luck than
did the nomination of Abraham Lincoln
twenty-four years ago. The country had
much better knowledge of Abraham Lin
coin than it has of his son, who has given
no evidence of craftsmanship, or of talent
for party leadership comparable with the
evidence furnished to the whole country by
the great debate in which the elder Lincoln
vanquished in argument and in the popular
suffrage one of the most experienced,
adroit and captivating of the veteran leaders
of the Democratic party. Moreover, the
elder Lincoln had won high reputation in
his profession.
Robert T. Lincoln can hardly be said to
have achieved eminence in his profession,
however promising were his prospects, when
| President Garfield asked him into his cabi-
net. For three years lie has been Secretary
of War. We presume he has been faithful
and efficient in tho performance of the du-
| ties of his Office. Those who are in posi-
| ton to know speak in high terms of his
| character and capacity. But the Office has
| not made upon him any demands which test
his fitness for the Presidency, and we have
had abundant warning that no man ought
| to be nominated for Vice President whose
| fitness for the higher Office is not demon
| strated. If we seek to know Mr.. Lincoln's
views on the great public issues which
| agitate parties, where are they to be founds
| What speeches has he made, what letters has
| he written, what acts has he done, that af
ford any satisfactory answer to the questions
about which thoughtful aud earnest men
| would desire information? Is there any
evidence that he has achieved a command
| ing influence in the Cabinet deliberations?
| Is it not plain that if he is taken he must be
| taken entirely on credit, SO far as the higher
Qualincdtlous Ttquireu III EfcSluenI VI tne
| United States are concerned?
| While no American, certainly no Republic
can, would wish to detract anything from
| the just merit and honor of Abraham Lin
coins son, it is proper to consider seri-
ously whether it is just to him or to the ma
| ton to use him as is in some quarters pro-
posed. Everyone rejoices in the universal
testimony to his integrity, aud everyone is
| glad that he has acquitted himself credit
ably as bureau officer. 1t is an evidence
of his manliness and genuine American spir-
| il if he feels that he ought to indicate more
clearly his title to be considered statesman
in his own right before he aspires to the
| highest Office in the land.