Omaha daily bee., 1891-04-05

Dack. Inc DAY was bitterly cold and he made
his speech without an oyercoat, cate hing, II
is said, at his Inauguration, cold which
aided in causing his death few weeks later.
PRESIDENT MSCoLNs TOURS.
President Line oln Travelled some what while
he was In the white house. but his life was
too busy one for the orlinary presidential
iunket. His first trip to Washington was
made by the Michigan Southern and New
York Central He was received with great
respect everywhere, except at Baltimore,
where IT was feared the southern sympathiz-
ors would mob him, and through which city
II Is said he went disguised. He had q
special train, and he made his speeches from
the baggage car. Andrew Johnson's tour
was speech.making one He was under the
influence OF liquor durlnga part OF it, and
some of his utterances were injudcious in
the extreme. He went nominally to lay tho
cornerstone OF the Stephen a. Douglass mon
ument at Chicago, but he travelled all over
the country TO get there, taking in New York
Philadelphia and Cleveland. He spoke every
where, and hurt himself every time he spoke.
HAYES AND THE SOUTH.
President Hayes was a great trav.
eler, He was constant fire.
quenter of Grand Army reunions,
ana his southern policy made his
southern tour very popular one. He was
accompanied by leading southerners, and he
received great dcal OF praise aud tafy in
the south. He was one Of the greatest OF the
presidential travellers and did great deal
more travelling while in the white house than
he has done since he left it, 1t was different
with General Grant. He Travelled but little
while president, going only now and then
TO Long Branch or New York. He started
out on his trip around the world, however
just after he left the white house. and no
man has ever had such tour as chat of his
around the world. All men--all nations
tried TO do him honor. He was received like
KING, ana ne formed an intimate acquaint
ance with the greatest statesmen all the
world over. He came back to the United
States with many new ideas Of government,
and had he been reelected president for
third term the country would have greatly
profited by the results of his experience and
observations.
HOW POLK WAS NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT.
James X. Polk did not do great deal of
travelling while in the white house. His
nomination was a surprise to HIM and to mis-
friends Colonel John Brownlow son of
the famous fighting parson, tells me there is
letter now in existence, written by Polk
Few weeks before he was nominated at Bati-
more. In this letter Polk writes to Andrew
jackson Donelson, endeavoring to get the
support of "Old Hickory to make him vice
president After stating his qualifications
for the place, he closes as follows: II hope
the Tennessee delegation will exert its in
huence in my behalf as the candidate for vice
president This has been the ambition of my
lie -Four years ago I desired the nomina-
tion, but gave way to others, and now
hope my friends will support me.''
The Tennessee delegation, said Colonel
Brownlow, had no idea of making Polk
their candidate for the presidency, and their
support OF hlm as vice president was merely
nominal. The convention, however did not
know this. The friends of the other candi-
dates were fighting hard, and it was in one
OF the bitterest of the struggles that merely
to divert the attention of the convention,
MAJOR Donelson arose and nominated James
II. Polk as candidate for the presidency
Donelson was supposed to be the mouth piece
OF Old Hickory and the influence of An
drew jackson was such that this caused "A
stampede towards Polk and he was nomi-
mated. When Andrew jackson heard of it
he was not pleased. He had contempt for
Polk, because Polk would not fight a duel
WIN Henry A. Wise when he pulled his nose
during his stay in Washington as speaker of
the house of represen tatives."
What did Polk say as to his nomination!n
asked.
They tell queer story concerning it in
tennessee, replied Colonel Bruwnlow. 1.-The
news was announced to him by his brother.
William Polk, and James X. Polk would not
believe it, William Polk was a much
brighter man than James K Polk He was
the Tom Corwin Of Tennessee in his days,
and was noted as a wag He could tell stories
by the yard, and President Lincoln, who
knew him well, was very fond of him. He
was ruined, however, by drinking. and it was
a curious thing that drink MADE his face
white rather than red He drank great
deal, but he had no blossom on his nose
Well William Polk was the first man to get
the news of James X. Polk's nomination He
heard OF it while his brother was trying a
petty dollar Justice Of the peace case in
the town, and he came into the lawyers
Office and interrupted the trial, saying
" Jim, have you heard the news from Bal
tmoreo
The future president replied that he had
not.
"'Well, Jim, the nominations are made
mated for the presidency
James X. Polk laughed, and so did the
rest of the crowd They ali thought iu was
one of Bill Polk's jokes, but they soon
learned that it was truth, and Polk made an
active canvass during the campaign An
drew Jackson helped him because he was the
democratic nominee. He didn't like the pill,
but he took It,"
HOW POLK WAS KILLED
president Polk was killed by anxiety and
hard work. Colonel Brownlow went on
"fe was laid in his grave by the Mexican
war, and In some way he got the idea that
the responsibility for that war rested uDon |
him. He was conscience stricken and felt
himself responsible for the lives lost in it.
This feeling preyed upon him. and the anx-
ety and hard work connected with his posi- |
lion brought him to his grave When he en-
black-haired and about fifty years of age.
When he came out he was q stopped, Wrin-
ked old man, whose hair was gray and
whose step was feeble. He Went back TO |
Nashville, and he died a few months after he |
eft the presidency" |
ANDREW JoHNsoN's Religion. |
POLK was a Presbyterian, was ho notp' |
said |.
mo" replied Colonel Brownlow, 'she was |
! Methodist, and / knew the Methodist |
preacher who baptised him. His wife was |
Presbyterian, and it is probable that the |
that he. was Pres oyterian him /
self, comes from that fact. I often see it |
stated that Andy johnson was q Presby- |
erian. The fact is he was an agnostic [ ]
Snew him very well, and according to my |
understanding, he was inside church only |
hree Tunes while he was president of the |
United States The first time was at the |
memorial services over President Lincoln in |
he senate chamber. The second time was
1t the memorial services of Colonel Elliot
Oafhgren, and the third time when Henry
Ward Beecher came to Washington. Beecher
lad come out in a sermon, and had supported |
My policy as Johnsons policy was called.
8eecher has received considerable criticism |
or this action, and when he came TO Wash |
ngton, friend Of the president called at the
white house and asked him TO go to the
'hurch to hear him preach. President John |
nN AaaN I