Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-15

Mr.. Chase was the tallest of the strong
men, but the Ohio delegation was fatally
diyided-an old and evil example. Chase
once described Seward by likening him to
a sword Of such elastic metal that the
blade could be bent until the point would
touch the handle and spring back to its
place with edge and point keen as ever.
Lincoln then was the Illinois lawyer
who had won the honors in the series Of
debates of the Squatter Sovereignty ques-
ton with its champion, Stephen a. Doug
| las, and whose speeches, together with
those to which they were replies, hsd
been published by Follett, Foster & Co,
a firm in Columbus, Ohio, But while
Lincoln acquired national fame in the
Douglas debate, and with his lecture at
Cooper Union, New York, the most me-
morsble of his official production, ne had
second time been disappointed in his
ambition to be Senator of the United
.ates, and he had been snubbed In the
United States court at Cincinnati
by the arrogant Edwin N. STAT
ton, who afterward as the War Secretary
held up the hands and more than the
hands OF President Lincoln In the dark
hours when history was nodded. But
Stanton, though he wronged and ignored
Lincoln at Cincinnati, by refusing to
allow him to make speech for which he
was prepared, and stormed in Louisville
because Grant attended the theatre, gave
essentials to both Lincoln and Grant. II
there is any man who may be said to have
stamped the rebellion under his feet
Stanton is the man. When the heroes
and giants of good works are remember
ed, if he is ever forgotten 1t will be
through objectionable ignorance.
That which was claimed for Lincoln as
against Seward, when they were compe-
titors before the Republican Nationsl
Convention, was that he was conservative
-thst he was not an Abolitionist, but
slavery restrictionist-that with him for
candidate the Republicans could carry
Pennsylvania; and Governor Curtin and
Judge Kelley are two living men who bore
testimony to that effect. Thurlow Weed
Was at fault for once. He had neglected
on his way to Chicago to call at Harris
burg and consult and conciliate Cameron,
8 man who still lives, and whom 1t is yet
wise to consult and conclliate.
There have been many and Improbable
speculations as to the course OF events II
Seward had been, instead of Lincoln the
nominee and elected. But Seward could
not have preserved the Union without
fighting for it; and he could not have
consented to surrender the Union to be
broken by the secessionists. The sword
might have been bent like q tWig, but 1t
would have flashed into weapon again,
like the Incompatible blade OF Damascus.
It WAS not in the nature of things under
the circumstances of the war, that Presi-
dent Lincoln could escape the utmost
violence OF criticism and detraction; that
In the midst of the stormy excltements OF
the times his conspicuous head should
not be showered with fiery hail OF herce
obiurgation, frenzied suggestion and.
wild admonitioDs. He was q quaiHt
figure, too, and there were many shsllog
enough to belittle him because he 1as
vertically one OF the people-5ecaus he told
stories, laughed and was dismal oy
turns, used homely familiar phrases, and
got as mad as Andrew Jackson, though
he scolded in different way. He WAS
like q SnakspeArean drama-the trsgedy
and the comedy-tbe mortal and the etsr-
nal-ln the same leaves.
Il was not ell at once that the people
recognised their leader-the clear brain,
the strong hand, the tender heart, the sins
gleness of purpose-the rare comeinatton
for our deliverance from trlbulatioas Not
indeed until the hour OF triumph-sQ,
swiftly followed by the hour Of martyf1
dom-was 1t given to millions Of his co1p-
trymen to see that his stature had become