New-York tribune., 1885-01-19


dealt generously with the public men who shared
in his work One or two of the chiefs are destined
for permanent distinction in our history; yet th'
mists are gathering over all OF them, ana most VI
the earnest and patriotic men VINO served theH
country so we'll in Congress. in the Cabinet IN TIE
State Governments. during the war period are De
coming shadowy and silent forms. but III the
midt of this ghostlkc multitude, the figure OF inc
President stands ont sharper and greater than ever
He spoke like prophet There Is nothpg III our
time. there is nothing in modern history, compara-
bic to the tone of those remarkable messages
speeches and letters in which he set forth our duty
90 clearly. and touched so surely our finest inn
pulses Never were State papers written with such
an entire absence of conscious literary art and
never had state papers much of the effect which
il is the function of the highest literary art to pro-
ducc. They derived an accent OF soieinnity from
the depth and simplicity OF Mr.. Lincolns ieelng'
his vivid sc of the greatness and the conditions
of the crisis, and his conviction that the Almighty
would lead us out of it by the clear read OF justice
and foritude. "With malice toward none, WIN
charity for all, with drmness in the right as Hcd
gives us to see the right lot us finish the work we
are in" This famous sentence gives the Keynote OF
all his official utterances We read them now, con
trastng them with the political utterances or other
Presidents and we wonder that anbody should
have failed to recognize the high inspiration OF such
noble words But in truth although there was a
great deal of wranging abont Mr.. Lincoln during
his fe the people did understand his message, ana
did realize what was his vital principle, Tue con-
cepton of God in politics. Mr.. Arnold. IN referring
to the religious character of the Presidents mind
makes foos! qnlsi-apoogetic use OF the word
"superstitous" and seems to labor under the not
| uncommon deusion that although certain amount
of sentiment about God is becoming. real
l.; ffohl In
weakness. Bat that conviction, as Mr.. Arnold him
self demonstrates. was Lncoln's strength. " know
there is God" said he in 1850, and he hates
iuiustice and slavery. | see the storm coming.
know that His hand is in it, If He has place and
work for me-inl think lie has-l believe AIN
ready | am nothing but truth is everything.
know anu right because ! know that liberty is
right for Christ teaches II, and Christ is bod.
have told them that a house divided against itself
cannot stand and Christ and reason say the same.
and they will find it so.' "Thc future would be
something awful TO me- as look at it - aud he held
up 3rest nent-" something awful, but Tor TINS
rock on which stand" "From the time he lett
SprinrGeld.r SAYS Mr. Arnold TO his death, .be not
only himself continually prayed for Divine assist
ance but constantly asked the prayers of his friends
for himself and his country. Declarations of bis
trust in God and his belief the efficacy of prayer
pervadc his State papers letters and speeches" But
it is useless to quote opinions and Illustrative
phrases on this head when Lincoln himself has Lett
u.s. in his second inaugural address. that sublime
recognition of the justice of Almighty God which
has taken ITS pace b. the side of the Gettysburg
address among the writings which the world will
not let die a distinguished divine" remarks
Mr. Arnold, coming down from the Capitol said
The Presidents inaugural is the finest State paper
in all history distinguished statesman FROM
V uT.,.l,
name grows brighter with time, SO it will be with
Lincolu's. century from to-day that inaugural
will be read as one of the most sublime utterances
ever spoken by man. Washington is the great man
of the era OF the Revolution So will Lincoln lie of
this but Lincoln will reach the higher position in
history"
Mr. Arnod's appreciation OF Lincon's historical
position is so much more important than the nara
ton OF incidents and the description of personal
traits that we have passed over the lighter portions
of his book with less attention perhaps than they
merit As a specimen, however, OF the interesting
miscellaneous particulars in which il abounds. we
eopy the following portions OF letter from General
sherman to the author describing the meeting oi
Lincoln. Grant, Sherman and Porter on board
steamer in the James River, in March, 1863:
On the DIST of March, 1863. the army which
commanded reached GOidsboro. North Carolina,
and there made junction with the TO ces Of reneras
coast at Newbern and Wilmington.
Ny army was hard mp for food and clothing.
which could only reach from The coast. aud my
chief attention was gwen TO the Ieco,SiIucti0h oi
no two railroads which meet at Ooldsb"ro, from
Newbern and Wilmington, so as to re cl9the the
| men, and get provisions enough with winch 10 con
| tinue march 10 Burksgilie virginia, where We
would come INTO communication with General
Grants army. then investing chnl0ud and Peters
| burg. 1 had written TO General Grant several
times and had received lettris irOnl bln, but 1t
seemed to all important that should have
| personal interview. Accordingly. on the 10th oi
March, leaving General SchOlied III command,
| took the first locomotive which had come over the
| repaired railroad. back to Newbern ami MOrehead
Ciy where got the small steamer Russia to con
yey me to City Point. We arrived during the
| afternoon of March u, and found General Grant
and stan occupying a neat set OF log huts, on bun
| overlooking the James River. The Genera family
| was with hm. We had quite long and friendly
| talk when he remarked that the President, Mr..
Lincoln was near by IN steamer lyiug at TIE dOcK.
| and he proposed that We should call ~ once We
| I'D So and found Alr. L,ucoln on board the Ocean
| Queen We had met IN the early part oi the war,
| and he recognized me. and received mo with
waInth of manner and expression that vas most
| grateful We then sat some time IN the aiicrcabn,
! and Mr.. Lincoln made many inquiries about the
events winch attended the march from Savannah 10
| Cold, and seemed to enjoy the humorous
| storit out sour bummers," of VIII cl lie had
heard - ch When in lively cJnversai ion. his face
frightened wonderfully; but If the conyersatio ion
| Jagged, his face assumed sad and sori0wlm
| General Grant and explained to him that my
next move from GoldsborO would bring my army,
Increased 10 SO,OOO men Nv Schonelub anu lcIrNS
| rcnf0rcements in close communication with tie-
eral Grants army then investing Lee III Richmond.
and that unless Lee could effect his escape. aud
make junction with Johnston IN North Carolina, he
would soon be shut up in Richmond with no poss-
| billty of supplies. and would have To surrender.
Mr. Lincoln was extremely interested III this view
| OF the case. and when we explained that Lees only
| chance was to escape, join Johnston, and, beng
| then between me in North Carolina and Grant IN
Virginia could choose which TO tight. Mr.. Lincoln
seemed unusually impressed with this. but General
Grant explained that at the very moment of our
conversation, General Sheridan was pressing his
cavalry across James River from the north 10 tho
| SOUTH that he would with this cavalry, 80 extend
| his left below Petersburg as to meet the South
shore Road and that ii Lee shonld let 40 his for