Evening journal., 1891-07-09
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. controversv.

PHILADELPHIA, July 9-The Times to-
day contains agigorous editorial by Col
onel A. X Mcclure, in which he says.
"Tho ignorance exhibited by John G.Nice
lay in his public telegram to the widow 81
ex-Nice President Hamlin Il equaled only
by his arrogance in assuming 90 speak Ter
/ Abraham Lincoln ia matters about which
/ Nicnlay was never consulted, and Of wlcA
he had no more knowledge than any otifr
routine clerk about the White House 1
/ do not regret that Mr.. Nicolay has rushed
into a dispute that must lead to the clear
establishment OF the exact truth as to 10
defeat Of Hamlin in 1864 II will sur j
| greatly impair, II not destroy, Nicola =
hitherto generally accepted claim TO acc'l-
racy as the biographer Of Lincoln, but he
can complain Of none but himself
He was Lincoln's Confidante.
II saw Abraham Lincoln at all hours 4f
the day and night during his presidential
service and he has himself abundantly
testified TO the trust that existed between
us. Having had the direction of his battle
In the pivotal states Of the Union he doubs-
less accorded me moro credit than merit
ed. In all OF the many grave poli;icgI
emergencies arising from the new aud
often appalling duties imposed by inter-
nicene war, was one Of those called 10
the inner councils of Abraham Iinc1ln.
And no man ever met or heard OF john G.
Nicolay IN such councils lie was a good
mechanical, routine clerk; he was utterly
inefficient as the secretary Of the pirsi-
dent; his removal was earnestly pressed
upon Lincoln on more than one occ.aslad
because OF his utter want OF tact ara III
ness to his trust, and only the provcrLal
L ind - fs.a L.. !. .
missal. His biography Of Lincoln is iu-
valuable as an accurate history Of the pub
lie acts OF the Lincoln administration, bpt
there is not a chapter or page in the inner
personal attributes of the man that is u0t
burdened with objectionable errors.
why Lincoln Preferred Johnson.
-" now repeat that, In obedience to
telegraphic request from President Linz
coin l visited him at the White House ito
day before the Baltimore convention uf
1864 At that interview Mr.. Lincoia
earnestly explained why the nomination
Of well known southern man like AM
drew johnson, who had been con g-es.-
man, governor and senator by the fa- os
his state, would not only nationalisa tho
Republican party and the goyernm .., lus
would greatly lessen the grave peril af lhs.
recognition of the Confederacy by England
and France. He believed chat the si-l on
10 the vice presidency Of representative
statesman from an insurgeut sta aat
had been restored to the Union wouid dis
arm the enemies of the Republic abroad.
mo intmatiOn, no trace of preiadica
against Mr. Hamlin was exhibited, and
well knew that no such consideration
could have Influenced Mr. Lincoln in srch
an emergency. But he believed that n
| great public achievement could be obtained
by the election Of johnson, and returned
TO Baltimore to work and vote for Jonn-
son, although against all my personal pre-
iilections in the matter.
The NIcolay Telegram Denounced.
ma. Nicolay's public telegram to Mrs.
Hamlin saying that the foregoing stat g
ment is entirely erroneous is as impu-
dent as it is false, and the correctness OF
my statement Is not even inferentially
contradicted by Nic0lay's quotation from
Lincoln. On the contrary, Nicolay's state
ment given in his history proves simply
that Nicolay was dress parading at Balti-
more and knew nothing of the presidents
purposes
"The convention was a Lincoln body pure
and simple, and no man could have been
put on the ticket with Lincoln who was
not known to be his choice It was nos
proclaimed, but 1t was in the air, and pretty
much everybody but John G. .Nicolay SCENT
cd and bowed to it. or the few men who
enjoyed Mr.. Llncolns complete confidenc@
Charles A. Dana was conspicuous, and
nis statement Is as creditable testimony am
could now be given on the subject, and be
ogically tells Of Johnson's Selection by
Lincoln for the vice presidency in 1854"