Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1893-11-04
In Turbulent Times.

the civil war.
In Turbulent Times.
It is not surprising that Dr.. Samson :
mind is stored with TIE most interesting
of "reminiscences, but it was Il matter OF
wonder to lnc as sat With him today ir
his room at the college and listened tc
his talk that he could have known the
leading spirits of the turbulent times be
tween 1642 and 1866 as he cid without
giving rise by word. deed CT look to s11s-
picion from either side: that he could
have gone through it al without having
taken on one iota of prejudice, and that
he could so clearly distinguish the good
in those who We're personally of sincere
mind on both sides Of the 'irreprcssib.e
conflict"
To mention all the eminent men who
from first to last were members of Dr..
Samson's congregation in Washing on
would be to print a long list OF illustri-
GUS names. It would include Senator
Graham Of North Car rolina: Howell Cobb
Of Georgia, speaker Of the house at one
time and later secretary of the treasury
William l.. Marcy Of New York, twice a
member Of the cabinet-as secretary of
war under Polk and secretary Of state
under Pierce; General Sam Houston of
Texas, patriot and warrior; Amos Ken
dali, postmaster general under jackson
and Van Buren,; Stephen A. Douglas,
whose aspirations for presidential hon
ors were then thought to be sure Of full
fllment; Henry Dodge, who was d gen
eral i'll the war of 1919, later territorial
governor of Wisconsin and first senator
from that state after it was admitted to
the Union, and whose son was also at
thesalne time senator from another state;
Tom Corwin of Ohio, secretary of the
treasury under Fillmore; James Guth-
RE of Kentucky, secretary Of the treas
ury under Pierce, and many others.
Jefferson Davis often attended DR..
Samson's church, although he was not
a member, and when the war clouds
flashes were devastating the
land DR.. Samson was on more than one
occasion allowed to pass from Washing
ton through the Confederate lines. Once
after long conference with Lincoln he
took message direct from the Federal
to the Confederate chieftain.
An Important Mission.
It was also proposed that a cargo of
cotton should be placed in DR.. Sanison's
care, sent through the lines to the north,
Of in the northern or English
market under his supervision and the
proceeds sent by him to relieve the for
eign missionaries. This was finally done,
with the full approval and cooperation
of both Mr.. Lincoln ard Mr.. Davis. Let
ters to the missionaries from their south
ern friends were also forwarded through
Dr. Samson, and he was several times
allowed to pass through the lines on re-
ligious errands.
1t was in 1858 that DR.. Samson accept
ed the presidency of the Columbian uni
versity in Washington. The discipline
of the institution down to that time had
not been of the best, and it was hoped
that there would be great improvement
in this respect under the new admins
tration. One of the first things that the
insoing president did was to call the stu
dents together and address them some
thing after this fashion:
young men, l learn with sorrow
that there has been some antagonism
here between the students and the facul-
ty. Now we have certain rules. They
are for the government of the students.
You want to improve. That is what
you are here for. You cannot arrive at
the best results unless every student
does his best. I suggest, therefore, that
each one of you shall strive not only to
keep the rules and to progress himself as
FAST as possible, but that those Of you
who understand the location Of the line
between innocent fun and mischief
shall take care of those who do not
Point out the line to them and help them
20 keep it. Let US create here an esprit
lie corps that will solidify and harmonize
Ill interests
Congressman Wilson as a Student.
While President Samson was talking
ne noticed that one of the students-a
bog not more than 1e-was looking the
speaker straight in the eye. and he felt
that that lad would probably be great
assistance The boy was from Virginia,
and his name was Wilson. He had en-
;ered the university in 1855, when tut
"a, two years before DR.. Samson took
charge, and was graduated in 1860. Dur
ng the time that the relations of the
TWO were those of instructor and stu
lent DR.. Samson found that his judg-
nent of the young man formed on that
irst day was correct. Wilson was a
close student, quiet in his ways, fun low
ng, but possessed Of clear understand
ng of the proper time for fun. In his
character there early appeared an ele-
nent of force which was to signally