The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-02-23
Uncle Abe's Honest Man.

n I Uncle Abe's Honest Man.
Theamerican Israetite, of Cincin-
natl, pblishes an Interesting lecture
by Hon A. s. Solomons, of WASH
ington. !. c.. delivered recently in
the ShaaAy Tetilla Synagogue, New
York, which contains many patriotic
thoughts AID much good counsel to
the people of his race in regard to
their duties rs American citizens. In
the course ofhis remarks he related
the following amusing incident:
Now that anew administration is
coming into power am reminded of
little story told ne by the great
and good President Lincoln. whom,
am happy to sa,, 1 knew inti-
mately, and whose confidence was
proud of and is memory l shall
always keep green We had been
talking about the pitfalls that beset
the path of public men and the dan,
ger of their tumblng into them,
when, as was his won't when an apt
idea struck him, he suddenly brigh-
tened up and, grasping my arm with
one of his long. bony hands. while
he brushed back his shaggy black
hair with the other said:
"When l first entered upon my
duties as President l fully made up
my mind to appoint to office those
only whom / knew to be honest and
who had suitable ability. In anv
event honesty should be the pre-
requisite, as the lack of a little ability
might easily be made up by an
honest man endeavoring to do his
dGty cOnscientiously. While this
f.sSye was fresh upon me. there
came to visit me one day very old
friend, minister, who had travelled
so fast that he had not yet shaken
the Illinois real estate off his capa-
ciOus boots.
"'Why, what brings you here, Mr..
Chootsper p said 1, (which was not
his name, but it will do just as well. J
"Well.' he replied, Il came down
here firstly to see you and get an old
fashioned shake of the hand. and
secondly, to say that the folks of my
congregation are so poor that they
can hardly afford me a decent living.
and though maybe you could give
me some sort of an office that would
pay me better.'
Certainly 1 answered quickly,
for knew he was an honest man,
and was looking for stock of that
kind. Have you in view any par
ticular Officer"
"'No,' said the Rev. Mr.. Choots-
per, complacently; Il would not
know what to select if you were to
hand me list to select from.'
"'Nor 1 what to give you but l
will tell you who will help you out.
You know Col. KiddIsh, of your
county. He is now on duty in the
Treasury Department. 90 and see
him he is a man of resources and
will get you out of your difficulty {;
come back tomorrow and report
"The next day, according to prom
ise, Chootsper put in an appearance.
and said that the Colonel had rec
him to apply for certain
position in the revenue department.
"'What Is the salary" SAID /,
signing in a mechanical way a pile of
commissions.
1.-TWO thousand dollars year,
"'Well, do you think that is
enough?' 1 answered: Il may be
able to do better for you,' for 1 knew
that he was an honest man, and
thought he might just as we'll as not
get place where he could earn
more money.
"'Oh. plenty. Uncle Abe. for that
is more than double the amount pve
been earning for years past
Nov, I began to THINK" said our
martyred President, that l would
have to force him into a place paying
larger salary. and where the gov
ernment would have a correspond
ing return for his valuable services
for 1 was more than ever (ifthat were
possible) convinced that he was an
honest man, but 1nally concluded
to give him his own way, and he
was anDoinfpd apoor6inUlU OFF he