St. Paul daily globe., 1891-03-08
A STORY ABOUT SIBERIAN.


anecdote of Gen. w. L. Sherman that
has not been prInted-at least not so
recently that the public remembers it.
lie related the incident to the Chicago
Post as tending to show the simple
character of the great soldier, his mag
nanilnIty ana his exalted opinion OF
Abraham Lincoln. Capt. Woke served
under the dead warrior, had many op-
p0rtunltles to study his character. and
lie cited this to prove what a noble
nature was concealed beneath Gen.
Sherman's rough exterior.
Several years ago, in the early sos.
the battle flags of the Illinois regiments
were removed from the old state house
10 the new and spacious quarters espe-
cially prepared for them. The governor
had planned to make the event one of
military Importance, and with that end
Ill view had prepared a programme, and
all the soldiers of the Illinois regiments
were invited to participate in the eX-
erclSes. The pretty town of Springfield
was crowded with visitors The guests
were some of the most distinguished
men of the nation, and every
one was busily engaged in renew
Ing acqualntanceS, reburniShing his war
"reminiscences and having good time
generally. The programme had been
divided into two parts. There was an
afternoon celebration and one in the
evening. The address in the afternoon
was made by state official. and was one
OF the blood and thunder kind. The
speaker referred to the Southern briga-
dlerS and dwelt upon what he called
their lack of loyalty to the Union and
he also said that he believed it would
nave been better if the sentiments OF
we'll known song had been carried out
and jeff Davis hanged to a sour apple
tree.
Gen. Sherman was the orator of the
evening. He was simple in his manner
of expression, but always eloquent. His
simplicity added charm and an earnest
ness to his words. When the general
rose and advanced to the front of the
platform he was received with most
vociferous applause. lie was fairly
overwhelmed at the enthusiasm OF his
reception, for the hall of the house of
representatives was crowded with bril-
liant audience. His face beamed with the
fervor of his feelings. He began by re-
ferring in delicate way to the speech
of the afternoon. He was sorry to hear
such sentiments publicly uttered be
cause they ought to be suppressed, and
he said these words with the full
knowledge that he had been at the head
of an army engaged in the effort to
overthrow the Southern Confederacy.
He would much rather see Jefferson
Davis drag out his miserable existence
to the end of his natural days than to
have one hair of his head disturbed.
Then, pointing his index finger in the
direction of the grave OF Abraham Lin
coin and passing feryid eulogy upon
his grand career as man, as statesman
and as the chief executive, he uttered
i'll an impressive tone these words: Il
would rather be Abraham Lincoln sleep
ing for all time on vOnder hill than to be
clothed in all the spleudors of the en-
perOr of Germany" The effect was
electrical. The whole audience was
moved as only the earnest words of an
eloquent man can move. Capt. Woke
says that he has never seen people so
deeply swayed by the force of their
emotions as the veterans of the war,
and in fact every one present on that
memorable occasion. They literally
drowned the general with their ap-
plauSe. and it was some minutes before
order could be restored and his address
resumed.
81 read with some interest the ac-
count i'll the papers of the movement
among the late Secretary WINDOWS
Eastern friends TO raise a fund for his
wife and daughters said a business
man of Chicago, who for some years
made his nome in st. Paul, MINI.
You will remember that the secretary
lived at WinUna, not far from the state
capital, and the event Of which | speak
happened SO recently that it is yet fresh
i'll my mind. When Mr.. Window was a
candidate for reelection as United
States senator his enemies reSorted tOall
sorts of schemes to defeat him. One of
the chiet reasons urged against him was
that he had accumulated millions in
public position that paid only mOder-
ate salary. They had picture takenof
a palatial house in Washington said to
belong to him, and circulated it all over
the state. There is no doubt that these
reckless charges had something, per-
haps much, to do with his defeat. Ills
death reveals the true condition of his
finances. He was not what may be
called rich man, and those who re-
sorted to this trick will now be con-
vinced that they were dishonest and un-
Just. Some men resort to 4 good many
mean practices nowadays to accomplish
their ends. | can think of no one meaner
or more cruel and unjust than this mis-
representation of the dead secretary"