The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-01-29


IN THE MIDST or THE GREAT CONFLICT
20 establish our liberties; how at times his
temper gave way and he used language too
strong for the Rev. MIR. Meems 10 record, but
which most of us under like provocation
would have indulged i'm much more copi-
ously: how he had his lavOrites among the
officers aud his pet autipathies ALSO We be-
gin to understand that he was a man like
ourselves great mainly in his immense 10y
atty and sci i-control. Whilst we are begin
ming The effort 10 restore Gen. Washington
Ia his c0ntymen, we also appear 10 be re-
solved 10 thrust Mr. Lincoln into his place,
and exalt him so high and isolate him so
completely that il viii after while he
sort OF sacrilege TO refer 10 him except as
saint. Even now any uniavorable criticism
of any act or statement OF Mr.. Lincoln is
widely resented, and If be is to be actually
known to his c0untrymen as he really was,
no time should be lost I'm painting the pct
ure he was no more saint than Washing
ton. and i presume no more OF SINNER, hui,
like Gen. Washington he had weaknesses ana
peculiaritiCso ofhisown which hneedtO be much
more fully set forth before we can know him
as he was. and as have no doubt he would
prefer shat his memory should be trans
mitted 60 his posteritN Everything now
written about him, how trivial, is found
10 Doe interesting 10 the country, and il APP
pears 10 me 10 be a sort OF duty that every
man who has had any relations with MT.
Lincoln should write out and publish
Lis experience and his view OF the pgcui-
aritics aud conspicuous traits Of our great
President. In a multitude Of counselors
there Is said tC be safety. il in multitude
Cf writers there is not actually truth, there
is Ell least the data from which reasonably
close approximation to the truth may be
deducci But in order 10 attain even tins
approach 40 The reality, Do rs essential that
every man who writes shall be conscientious
and tell the exact impressions made on him,
REGAHpITss OF WHAT PEOPLE MAY THINK
OF l.m cr what he says If a man write at
all upou such a subject, 81 is bare Justice 10
his readers and bare honesty IN himself 20
state lhe truth: OtheTN se he helps 10 estab-
lish and 10 perpetuate a cheat.
Let us hope that such papers may be gen
orally written, aud that some earnest and
com etpnl scholar or philosopher may collect
and digest them, and after consideration and
comparison of them all, paint us in fitting
words q picture OF Abraham Lincoln which
will be satisfactory 10 ns coun'rymen.
SO not wish TO Dee understood from the
foregoing remarks TO Lave any intention 10
attempt "a biography ot MT Lincoln. or in
deed anything ike continuous narrative
concerning him. j only propose 10 record
the ln.j Iessi0ns he made on me at different
times and under a variety OF circumstances,
20 b. rS,i, ii they 1re worth IL, in helping
TO u.aisc mp some consistent knowledge OF
Mr. Llcln's character.
lir, saw him 10 know him personality in
Chicago ia le50. The United States Court
was in session there al the time, and there
was a isrge representation OF the bar Of the
State iu attendance bad gone to Chicago
merely 10 see she city and 10 meet some old
friends n hom j had noi seen for some years.
Beiur citizen OF Illinois, and having won
some small reputation during the Mexican
war, bul recently ended Mr.. Lincoln, with
some I he other lawyers. was good enough
to cal upon me, The general impression LETT
on my mind was Of a tall, gaunt, angular
man. very homely and awkward, but with
q yery intelligent and kindly face He APP
pearcd to bean high spirits and was overflow
Ing with humor lie told a number Of very
funny stories which kept every body laugh
ing. and appeared 10 be a man altogether
happy and without a care. As ] saw him
there, during the short time Of his visit, be
had Lot an Indication Of that
s3EROwFUL AND PATHETIC LOOK
whicI ai,erward became the familiar ex-
preston OF his face. Altogether, al ihis
time ] should have selected Mr. Lincoln as
the happicst and most Joyous man ] had
ever met ] afterwards saw him in Indian
apOli. ID l,Gl, Oh his way to Washington 10
be inaus urated President OF the United
States
~ Ill. l. % 80, ,... ~ r. E. -,
curiosity and interest than when ] saw him
Ia Chicago and ] watched him as closely as
was possible under such circumstances and
IN the midst Of such a crowd. Whilst his
outward appearance was much the same, his
face had strangely lost that sock Of careless
humur which ] remembered. Already
shade Of care had begun 10 creep over his
c0uulenanCe and dim its Joyous expression.
lie invited me 10 accompany him 10 Wash
ingtoH, which ] was glad to do, and al once
jointd the small party Of friends who were
with him, and among whom were several
officer. 0l the Army whom / knew, notably
Gen. Hhen Co. Sumner and Gen lthen
Maj David Hunter. Perhaps two more
genuine and honorable men, more intensely
LOYAL 90 the Government, could not have
been iuuud in the Army AZ Indianapolis
then, 4 became a member though a very
Insignificant one, Oi the party which sur
rounded, and, ln a sense guarded Mr. Linz
coin iu that most wonderful Journey. the
like 40 which has never been made before
or since Those who were living In the
latter part oI February, 1861, cannot fail,
even nOW, 10 remember with a pang OF
awakened pain and apprehension the con-
dliiOn nI public feeling all over the North.
No one Was willing 10 believe that disauion
and civil war were really contemplated by
any pai, of the people, and yet the sights and
sounds forced upon them the agony of ap-
pTeheusiOn that il might be So They did
not know where 10 look for information OF
advice
THE EORRID sPEcTER or WAR
and rain had already invaded every house
hold aud sat By every iiTeside IN The land.
Women and children, alike with the men.
were distracted with fear and sorrow over the
future. An Classes aud conditions of peoule
were, iJ were, gathered on the houset0ps
AVA tia- DE beginning OF a civil war. which
every body knew must bring mourning IA
every IauiIy ID the land. Much The largest
poruon % the people, both North and South
w0ula not whatever they may have thought
aomit .lai There would bc war: ihe south.
cru p-Ul e, because they bad been taught ID
bellpH lld the North were c0waTalv On
mature and too much absorbed. besides. n
money making, 10 confront the South n
arms Use Northern people, because the,
knew HsTe Was no rational cause f0r wal
which sad not existed from the beplpriul
0i tbe Government aud because they bal