Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-04

Chase believed IN peaceable dlsunlon as
altc.-cther preferable to fraternal conflict,
and urged his views with earnestness upon
the President. Cameron, always eminently
practical. was not misled by any sentimental
ideas and regarded war as inevitable.
Welles was an amiable gentleman without
ery- aggressive qualities whatever, and
Smith and Bates were old and conserva-
tive. while Blair was politician with few
of the qualities Of statesman.
LINCOLN RECOGNIZED HIS wEAKNEss
A reasonably correct idea of the estimate
placed upon Lincoln's abilities for his posi-
lion NAV be obtained by turning to the
eulorv on Seward delivered by Charles
Francis Adams in 1873. Adams was Re-
rublican member of Congress when Lincoln
was chosen President, and he was Lincoln's
Minister to England daring the entire
Tpriol of the war. In eulogizing Seward as
The master spirit of the administration, and
As the power behind throne stronger than
the throne itself, he said: 'T must affirm,
without hesitation, that in the history of
oar Government down to this hour, no ex-
7pcriment so rash has ever been made as that
cf clecting to the head of affairs man with
s, little orevious preparation for his task
GS Mr.. Lincoln.
Indeed, Lincoln himself seems to have
been profoundly impressed with his want of
fitness for the position, when he was first
named as 4 candidate from his State In
1S59 after he had attained national reputa-
tioa BY his joint discussion with Douglas in
the contest for Senator, Mr. Pickett, the
editor of an Illinois Republican journal,
wrote him, urging that he should permit the
Use of his maze for President. To this he
answered: II must in candor say L do not
think mvSelf fit for the Presidency / cer-
tainlv am fattercd and gratife that some
partial friends think of me in that connec-
fior, hut 1 really think it best for our cause
that no concerted effort, such as you sug-
gcst. should be made
sEwARD'S DIVERSION OF FOREIGN WAR
Seward evidently agreed with his eulo-
Cis;, Mr.. Adams. That is clearly shown by
the fact that in less than one month after
the administration had been inaugurated he
wrote out and submitted to the President n
pronCsition to change the national issue
from slavery to foreign war, in which he ad-
NiSed that war be at once declared against
Spain and France unless satisfactory ex-
plantations were promptly received, and
That the enforcement of the new policy
should be individually assumed BY the
President himself, or devolve it on some
member of his Cabinet. He added that
while it was not in his special province, 81
neither seek to eYade nor assume the re-
Sponsibility."
In other words, Seward boldly proposed
TO change the national issue by declaration
of war against some foreign power, and to
have himself assigned practicable as die
tltor. He assumed that the Presid ,nt was
incompetent to his task: that his police, if
accepted, would be committed to himself for
execution, end that he meant to be dictator
is clearly proved by The fact that in his
formal proposition he provides that the pol
ley ''Once adopted, the debates on it must
end, and all agree and abide
DIDN'T CONCEAL THEIR DIsTRUsz.
Outside of the Cabinet the leaders were
equally discordant and quite as distrustful
ol the ability of Lincoln to fill his great
Office Sumner, Trumbrll, Chandler, Wade,
Henry Winter Davis and the men to whom
the nation then turned as the great repre-,
sentative men Of the new political power,
did not conceal their distrust of Lincoln.
and he had little support from them at anv
time during his administration. Indeed,
bat for the support given him by the
younger leaders of that day, among whom
Blaine and Sherman were conspicuous, he
would have been President almost with
out 2 party.
The one man who rendered him tie great
est service of all AT the beginning of the
rcIitor of lllinais.@ When the Republican
leaders were hesitating and criticising their
President, Douglas came TO the front with
all his Characteristic courage and sagacity,
ard was probably the most trusted of all the
Senators at the White House. 1t is not sur
priSinC that there was great confusion in the
councils of the Republican leaders when
suddenly compelled to face civil war, but it
viii surprise many intelligent readers at
this day TO learn of the general distrust and
Generalization that existed among the men
who should have been a solid phalanx of
leadership in the crisis that confronted
them. Ii must be remembered that there
were no precedents in history to guide the
now President. He was therefore compelled
L. decide for himself in the multitude of
conflicting counsclS what policy the admin
is.ration should adopt.
yICIoUSNESS OF PLACE SEEKERS.
Lincoln could formulate no policy bevond
mere geacralities, declaring his duty to pre-
serrc the integrity of the Union. He saw
ior,s captured and arSenals quilted and
States seeded with every preparation for
war. and yet he could take no step to pre-
pare the nation for the defense of its own |
life. The border States were trembling in
the balance. with predominant Union sem
timcat in most Of them, but ready to be |
lc should declare in favor of what was |
called coercion" by force OF arms. Coercion |
ami invasion or the sacred soil of the South |
ern states were terms which made even the |
EtoutaSt southern Union man tremblei.
A. the administration haAno policy that it |
could declare, ever leader had a policy of
his own, with every invitation 10 seek to
magnify himself 10y declaring it, The capi- |
tai Mas crowded with politicians of every
grade. The place seekers swarned in num-
DcT- almost equal to the locusts of Egypt
ana the President npSterpd u1V and
night by the leading statesmen OF the
country, who clamOred for offices for their
hcnCEmen. well remcmkHc the sad picture
ol despair his face presented when hap
pencd To meet him alone for q few moments
in the Executive Chamber as he spoke of
The heSTtleSs sTsoilSmen who seemed to be
utterly indifferent TO the grave dangers
which threatened the Government. He said:
- seem ike one sitting in palace assigning
apartments 10 iinpOrtunate applicants while
thc structure is on fire and likely soon to
perish in ashes"
THE MAJORITY IN CONGRESS.
Turn where Lincoln might there was
hardly silver lining TO the dark cloud that
oycrshadowed him. The Senate that met in
executive session when ne was inaugufated
contained but 90 Republicans to % Demo
crafts, with enc bitterly hostile American
and four vacancies from Southern States
that never were filed. 1t was orly by tine
midsummer madness OF secession and the
retirement Of the Southern Senutors that he
WAS given Z he lna jority in both branches OF
Congress. and when ne turned ~ the mill
tasv arm OF the Government he was ap-
YailpG ny tn" troacheIy OF the men to whom |
the nation should have been able to look for
its preservation.
Tfanv one wouid study the most painful /
ana Impressive object lessons on this point, |
Jet him turn to Greelly's American Conflict |
aud icarl from two pictures how the stars |
- chie!tains Elittered and faded until un- |
known men filed their places and led the |
I niOn armies 10 victory. In the first volume |