St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-03-01
ROBERT T. LINCOLN,
And the One objection to Him,


Judge Albion ". TOtrgee in Springfield Republican.
The one objection thus far formulat-
ed against Robert Il. Lincoln as the
presidential candidate of the republi-
can party, is that he has no personal
following" 1t is an almost unprecedent-
ed charge to be made against an Amer
lean citizen 45 years of age, who has
| filled with distinguished ability an i'm
pOrtant place in the cabinets of two
presidents, during a period of the most
intense political excitement, when his
party was rent in twain by factiOnal
conflict and whose name is now for the
second time prominently mentioned as
a presidential candidate. Even more
remarkable is the fact that it is strictly
true. There is no clique or faction, no
class or set of political workers who
can boast that their personal interests
would be subserved by his elevation to
the presidency. He has no confidants
with whom to stock kitchen cabinet,
no familiars whom he would deem it
an imperative duty to feed at the ma
tional expense. There are no vultures
lowering about his head and no jackals
following at his heels.
The fact is equally remarkable for
the insight it affords of the mans char
acter and the assurance it gives of the
course he would pursue if chosen to
the presidency. His life has been one
of singularly rugged and pronounced
but unobtrusive independence. He
has always had the courage of his own
convictions and pursued his own
course, without asking leave of self
constituted advisers or awakening the
hostility of those who CHANGED to diff
fer with him. He is as imperviOus to
personal ambition, save that which in
clines to the performance of patriotic
duty, as was the illustrious man whose
name he so wOrthily bears. No "bOss"
has ever been able to secure his con-
sent to launch boom in his favor,
and no set of "heelers" has been able
to sully the name of Lincoln by max
ing it the watchword of their raid upon
public favor.
In order to appreciate the signif
canoe of these facts we must remember
that it required the exercise of the
power of the commander in chief of
the army of the United States to keep
Robert L. Lincoln out of the ranks UNI
til his education was completed. That
no sooner had he finished his college
course than he entered the service, not
in position such as the president
would have been justified in bestOw-
ing upon a son so thoroughly qualified
for command, but as a simple aid upon
the staff of the general of the army,
man who required more work and gave
less praise to those who served him in
such capacity, than any other who ever
held like command. Before he was
81 he had thus become a soldier with
less hope or prospect of preferment
than any veteran serving in the ranks
the son of a nations ruler learning
patiently the lesson of obedience.
Before he reached the age of 81 he
was left the heir of a name which the
nation yet worships with a fearful
reverence that attaches to no other.
He had only to have breathed the wish
and hOnors would have been heaped
upon him. A grateful people would
gladly have conferred upon his fathers
son military rank which would have
ripened by mere lapse of time and in
evitable preferment, into the chief
command before the age of compulsory
retirement arrived. But the self-con-
tanned young American did not forget
his own honor or his fathers fame.
he asked nothing OF the nation Ills
fathers wisdom had saved.
The man who succeeded as the act
ing president endeavOred to attach the
son even at that early age, to his cause
that he might secure liberation for his
acts through the popular reverence for
the name he bore. We can weakly
guess how tempting must have been
the lures the willy politician spread be-
fore the young mans feet when we re-
member who they were that yielded to
Mr.. JOhnson's wiles and with him
''swung around the circle" in a vain
quest for popular support. But Robert
Lincoln, young as he was, was "chip
of the old block" not to be swerved
from his course or seduced from his
conviction, by any proffer of patronage
or favor. Yet he gave no offense by
his refusal.
Going to the great metropolis of the
West he set himself diligently and I'M
Obtrusiyely to overcome the difficulties
of his profession. He asked no favor
made no boasts. More than one fac
ton in state and city politics would
ha haaD nfo1 20 oAI he mama