The Indianapolis journal., 1885-01-24
LINco1N ANp puFr GREEN.
The Singing RebuISe Administered TO Sc
cession Fanatic.

Admiral Por,er's Recent PAPER.
man appeared at the landing dressed in gray
homespun with somewhat decayed appearance,
aud with staff about six feet long In his hand.
1t was, in fact nothing more than a stick taken
from wood-pile II was two and half inches
IN diameter, and was not even smoothed at the
knots 1t was Just such weapon as a man
would pick up to kill q mad dog with
w no are you and what DO you want" asked
the officer of the deck You cannot come on
board unless you have important business.
i am Dun Green" said the man. II want to
see Abraham Lincoln, and my business concerns
myself alone, You tell Abraham Lincoln Duff
Green wants to see him"
The officer came down into the cabin and de-
livered the message. l arose and said Il will so
W and send him away but the President said:
Let him come on board. Duff is an old friend
Of mine, and would like to talk to him."
/ then went on deck to have boat sent for
him, and to see what kind Of a man this was
who sent OFF such arrogant messages TO the
President of the United States. He stepped
into the boat if it belonged TO him. instead of
sitting down, he stood up, leaning on his long
staff. When he came over the side. he stood
on the deck defantly, looked UP at the flag and
scowled and then, turning to me, (whom he
knew very WE'LL, he said: II want to see Abra-
ham Lincoln He paid no courtesy to me or to
the quarterback
1t had been a very long time since he had
shaved or cut his hair and he might have come
under the head of ''unkempt and not canny."
when you come," | said, in respectful
manner. the President will see you, but throw
away that cord of wood you have in your hand,
before entering the Presidents presence"
'sHow long is it," said he ''since Abraham
Lincoln took to apng royaltys Man dressed In
brief authority cuts such fantastic capers before
high heaven that it makes the angels weep. l
can expect airs from naval officer. but dou't
expect to find them III a man with Abraham Lin
coins horse sense"
thought the man crazy and think SO still.
Il can't permit you to see the President / said,
until receive further instructions but you
can't see him at all until you throw that wood
pile overheard"
He turned on his heel and tried to throw the
stick on shore but it fell short, and went float
ing down with the current
"Ah! he said has it come to that? Is he
afraid of assassination Tyrants generally get
into that condition"
went down and reported this queer customer
to the President and told him thought the man
crazy but he said: LET him come down; he
always was little queer. l shan't mind him" T"
Mr. Duff Green was shown into the cabin. The
President got up from his chair to receive him,
aud approaching HIM, offered him his hand.
'it is red with blood; / can't touch
it. When l knew it, it was an honest
hand. 1t has cut the throats of thousands of
my people, and their blood which now lies soak
ing in the ground cries aloud to heaven for ven
geance | came to see you, not for old remem-
brances sake, but to give you piece Of my
opinion. You won't like it, but don't care, for
people don't generally like to have the truth
told them. You have come here, protected by
your army and navy to gloat over the ruin and
desolation you. have caused. You are second
Nero, and had you lived in his day you would
have iddled while Rome was burning"
When the fanatic commenced this TRADE of
abuse, Mr. Lincoln was standing with his hand
outstretched, his mouth wreathed with the
pleasant smile he almost always wore, and his
eyes lighted up as when anything pleased him.
He was pleased because he was about to meet
an old and esteemed friend, and better pleased
that he had come to see him of his own accord.
Mr., Lincoln gradually withdrew his out
stretched hand as Duff Green started on his
talk, the smile left his lips the talker got TO
the middle of mis- harangue, and the softness Of
his eyes faded out. He was another man alto
gether.
Had any one shut his eyes after Duff Green
commenced speaking, and opened them when he
stopped. he would have seen a perfect transfor-
nation. His slouchy position had disappeared,
his mouth was compressed, his eyes were fixed,
and he looked four inches taller than usual.
Duff Green went without noticing the
change in the Presidents manner and appear
ance. You came here he continued ito tri-
umph over poor conquered town, with only
women and children in it; whose soldiers have
left it, and would rather starve than see your
hateful presence here. Those soldiers-and only
handful, at that-who have for four years de-
fed your paid lnercenarieS on these glorious
hills, and have taught you to respect the rights
of the South. You have given your best blood
to conquer them and no Tou will march back
to your demoralized cap. H. and lay out your
wits to win them over so that you can hold this
government in perpetuty. Shame on you!
Shame -"
Mr. Lincoln could stand it TO longer; his coarse
hair stood on end and his nostrils dilated like
those of an excited race-horse He stretched out
his long right arm, and extended his lean fore
finger until 1T almost touched Duff Green's face.
de made one step forward, TO place himself as
near as possible to this vituperator, and in
clear, cutting voice addressed him. He was
really graceful while he speaking-the grace
OF one who Is expressing his honest convictions.
stop you political tramp" he exclaimed, 'you,
the alder and abettor of those who have brought
all this ruin on your country, without the cour-
age to risk your person IN defence of the princi-
pies you profess to espouse A fellow who stood
by to gather up the loaves and fishes. if any
should fall to YOU A man who had no principles
in the North. and who took South with
him Apolitical hyena who robbed the graves
of the dead, and adopted their language as his
own! You talk of the North cutting the throats
of the Southern people. You have all cut your
own throats and unfortunately. have cut many
of those of the North. Miserable impostor
vile intruder. 90 before forget myself and the
desecrate this national vessel another minute!"
And he made step toward him.
This was something which Duff Green had not
calculated upon; he had never seen Abraham
Lincoln In anger. His courage failed him, and
he turned and fed out of the cabin, and up the
cabin stairs as if the avenging angel was after
him. He never stopped until he reached the
gangway, and there he stood looking at the shore,
seemingly measuring the distance, to see if he
could swim to the landing.
was close behind him, and when I got on
deck, l said to the officer in charge: Put that
man on shore, and if he appears in sight os this
vessel while we are here have him sent away
with scant ceremony
La af
whipped dog and hurried into the boat The
last saw of him he was strding rapidly over
the fields as if to reach the shelter of the woods
The man must have been Geraneed. When i
returned to the cabin. about fifteen minutes
later, the President was perfectly calm--as if
nothing had happened-and did not return to the
subject for some hours.