Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-27
maintaining the neutrality OF the European

violated their neutrality, the former had to pay
heavy damages therefor and the consequences
leon III.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
'Do you think. Mr.. Forney. that had Mr..
Lincoln lived to have served ont his second
term bis policy would have settled the
condition of the emancipated slaves more salts
faotortly to them, as well as to the country,
than 1t has been under the fifteenth amend
ment and the so-called reconstruction acts for
the states In rebellion?"
EYES, 1 do, and I am GLAD You naked the
question. While believe Mr.. Lincoln would
have recommended an amendment to the Con-
stltution or some kind for the future citizen
ship OF the freed men, rs well as Of free colored
men, Lac would have left the power with the
states. fully believing that they would have
dealt with the question more wisely than BY
forcing 1t upon them. He realized that some
OF the best and wisest men Of both parties in
the north thought the country at that time was
not yet educated up to the point OF comforting
and that to do it with any percipitancy, as we'll
as for sort of quasi punishment to the rebels.
would do the colored man more injury than
good. Whether subsequent results show this
you can judge for yourself. Mr.. Lincoln, il
not fully in accord, was in sympathy with many
of the leading statesmen of the north that If the
south was left a little more time to consider
the question of universal suffrage. and that the
ratio of Representatives in Congress would have
to be based on citizenship and not population,
it would have gradually accepted negro suffrage
from political necessity, il not from any higher
motive"
Mr.. LINooLN's CABINET.
''Who Of the members of Mr.. Lincoln's cabinet
in your judgment figured the most oonspicu-
ously and at the same time shared the most Of
his confidence"
That is rather hard question to answer, for
the reason that Mr.. Lincoln was exceedingly
careful in avoiding anything like rivalries be-
tween them, fully believing that while their
parts were different they were still all Of them
intended for the accomplishment of the one
main obJect-the suppression of the rebellion.
As Is the case under all administrations, the
Secretary of State, like the premier of England,
is nearest to the throne. Mr.. Chase. as head
Of the treasury, had problem to deal with in
many respects as vital to the preservation of the
government as those of the State Dspar tmsnt
and the army and the navy. doubt whether
this talk OF ours requires that We should enter
into the special details of any of the depart
ments, but it would hardly be doing justice TO
the times we are speaking OF not TO state that
the three great conspicuous figures surround
ing Mr.. Lincoln (after Gen. Cameron had re-
tired from the War Department. were Seward,
Chase and Stanton.
They were men of remarkable parts a swell
as OF worldwide reputation, ranking with the
brightest and ablest of the statesmen of the
old world. The time has not vet arrived for
history to deal justly with either of them. In
this connection want to state a fact that may
not be generally known, and that is the real
author of the greenback currency. just at the
time when 1t was absolutely necessary that the
government would have to establish a system
of credit Independent Of the money lender,
Robert j. Walker, because of his then recog-
nized financial ability. became q close and
confidential advisor, by direction of the Presi-
dent, with Secretary Chase, and, az We all re-
member. was sent to Europe to negotiate one
OF our early loans, and, as We also remember
he was not very successful. And then it was that
his ingenuity, with Mr.. Chase, solved what is
now known as the greenback currency and
don't think it will be of the least disparage-
ment OF MIR. Chases reputation to SAY that the
real authorship OF this currency belongs to
Roht. j. Walker. l wish also to state in this
connection that the first article that was writ
ten IN advocacy OF 1t was prepared by him and
was published in the Daily Chronicle of this city,
] recall it very well, because l was present
when he dictated 1t to Col. John W. Forney's
stenographer in the editorial room Of the
Chr0ntcle office, on 9th street, in this city.
"Robt. j. Walker during those times rendered
the most efficient aid to the administration, as
did also many other prominent democrats, no.
tably Caleb b. Cushing Both OF these men
held very close relations with the administra-
ton. The cases OF these two men land there
were many others like them of the same class
of politics. 60 to show that Mr.. Lincoln es-
chewed all politics in calling to his aid the best
talent that could be had.
mo man was.big enough nor strong enough
70 excite the slightest envy or fear Oh his part,
and no one knew this better and appreciated
him all the more for it than that particular
class Of men that he called around him, You
observe, my friend, that 1t matters not what
part We study of this wonderful man, each one
OF them adds to the luster aud greatness of his
character"
LOYALTY AND NOT PARrIsANsHIP.
"Were party lines as strongly drawn at that
time as was the habit under past administra-
tionsI''
NO. said Col. Forney, "they were not. and
while the condition of the country largely for
babe that they should be. Mr. Lincoln was de-
eidediy adverse to making any test for office
other than loyalty to the government. While,
as you can well imagine, the depart mcnts were
SUI, fnii OF those who strongly sympathized
occurred quietly stole away to engage in it, even
in such cases the President preferred their
doing SO rather than have them dismissed from
Office. We forget at this distant day that nearly
70 per cent OF the department clerks came from
uncertain quantity and hard TO deal with under
the condition OF things that then existed. Be-
heylng that Ill order to solidify public senti-
ment In all the states out of rebellion the
Old policy OF to the victor belong the spoils of
Office would hardly be the safe one to pursue
hence the wisdom of the man In recognizing
the loyalty of democrats just as readily as the
loyalty Of republicans. Naturally enough cabi-
net officers quietly preferred their own party
friends, but no democrat was refused position
simply on the ground OF his politics 80 long as
he was loyal. That this policy bore its good
fruits was evidenced in the fact Of large acces-
sions OF democrats from all tie states north of
the POTOMAC to the support Of the administra-