The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-18
THE LATE SCHUYLER CoLEAx.
Why He Ceased Contradicting the Lies Tol'
About HiInseIf-A Neyg Story of Lincoln.

Why He Ceased Contradicting the Lies Told
About Himself-A New Story of Lincoln.
W. A. Croffut, IN Indianapolis Peoples
Schuyler Colfax and his wife dined with me
recently while he was lecturing in the East. i
asked him why he didn't keep on exposing the
lies about him III relation to the Credit Mobilier
business
Il have exposed them over, and over and over
again" he said It'll I am tired What's the
use In trying to combat the abuse of an editor in
MS own columns, when he always has the last
wordf never before had so many friends as
nave to-day, could go to Congress any year
from my own district; my own neighbors believe
In me; and my only sorrow is that some honest
people Oeneve the stories against me, because of
the ceaseiess iteration by Dir. Dana and others"
asked him for Mr.. Danas animus in the matter
Il don't know" he laughed, unless because
was always his friend When the clamor arose
against the Tribune account of its On to
Richmond cry and the head of Mr.. Dana was
demanded to appease the indignation went to
Mr.. Greedy and beSought him not to listen TO the
senselesS demand. / recalled Mr. Dana's great
services to the Republican party and the ideas
out of which it grew, his value to the Tribune.
and his remarkable ability as journalist; and
reminded him that the storm would soon blow
over, and the first victory would cause it to be
forgotten. Mr.. Greeley seemed to agree with
me, and was surprised when Mr. Dana's resig-
nation accepted. Afterwapd, when Mr..
Dana was Assistant Secretary of War, CO.
operated with him cordially. He has no reason,
that know of, for constantly picking at nae and
holding my name up to odium, for he might
easily know the truth"
ii do not expect, he SAID to me at another
time, that justice will be done me till am
dead-perhaps not even then. You know, and a
good many others know, that / not only never
had cent of the Credit Mobilier money, but
that did not lie about it, that was in exactly
the same boat as Judge Kelley. who is member
of Congress now, and Garfield, against whom
the charge OF venality was never remembered:
that Cakes Amess famous memorandum book
was manufactured for The OCCASION the item
about me appearing not in the order of date,
but a ay-eaf at the end; that the Sergeant
alarms testified that, according to his best
knowledge and belief he paid the HlGney
on the check to S. G., or bearer to
Cakes Ames himself and not to me; that the
stock which Cakes Ames swore belonged to me
was actually bequeathed in his will to his son;
and that when he died he acknowledged that he
had done injustice to Schuyler Colfax.' But
why reiterate these facts? After suspicion has
once been raised against public man, it is
almost impossible for him to get the truth told"
He was in this city fortnight ago, 81 never
felt better in my life, he said to nae. Il have
not overworked, and am going to work less
than ever henceforth" He agreed to go on
trip with me to Europe next summer. to take in
merely the pleasant towns of the British isles
and Paris II am going to travel good deal
during the next ten years, he said.
Five or six years ago went one Sunday to
hear that numerous Unitarian parson, j. w.
Chadwick of Brooklyn the only time / ever
saw him. He preached on the distinguished viii
lains Of the world and introduced into the gang
Schuyler Colfax by name. / waited impatiently
till there was pause in the services when
went up into the pulpit, handed my card to the
preacher, told him that he had been msled into
doing gross injustice to one Of the best men
that ever went into American politics, Mr.
Colfax, assured him that knew the facts ex-
honerating him. and asked him, as he was
Unitarian, and supposed to be somewhat
more liberal" than others, to give nae the priv
ilege of speaking for five minutes from the pull
pit steps and explaining to the congregation the
errors into which he had fallen. His hearers
seemed disturbed; the preacher was evidently
astonished and annoyed; the deacons, who were
passing around the contribution boxes stood
aghast, and confess that was a little embar-
rasse myself, as the parson took some time to
decide AT last, after much parleying he did
decide-aganst me-and some of his hearers to
this day, no doubt, classify Colfax with Calig-
ula and Judas Iscariot By what superior right
does preacher indulge in defamation Of Olar-
acter9
Colfax was born in this city, close to the pres
ent Franklin-street station of the Sixth avenue
elevated railroad, and for two years served as err
rand boy in store at $52 year, and boarded
himself That was the regular price in those
days-$50 year and present of 81 at Christmas
as token of faithful service and good behavior
Mr. Colfax told me new story of Mr.. Lincoln,
recently. Il have never used it in my lecture"
he said, land never printed it, for | was afraid it
might be misunderstood" l do not concur in this
view, for it reveals nothing new in the great
emancipators character. ut WAS in the spring
of 1868 that called one day at the White House
and found Mr. Lincoln plunged in the depths Of
despair He looked 'haggared and wretched
and | thought had been weeping: Our ar
mics are making no progress, 'heexclaimed, New
York is opposing the draft What if the war for
the Union should fall What if the rebellion
should succeed Might not posterity hold me re-
sponsible for the rivers of bloodshed and the
army of widows and orphans? Might not my
fate be that of Varus, who thought be could
Romantic the Germans2 It was who said the
country cannot exist, half slave and half free.
Might not be regarded as the author of all the
calamities9 However, he broke out again, after
pause, i have decreed the abolition of slavery,
and the world will always approve that. When
/ think Of Mr. Lincoln, he is very apt to come
back to me as l saw him then, rather than as he
looked when called onhim the day before his
DEATH"