Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-14

to be President lay in that he thought ne
could serve his country best in that place.
He had a policy and ideas of his own as to
| the administration of affairs. and had he
been nominated he would have been elected,
| and his administration would have put the
country twenty years in advance OF where
| 1t was then. He was, you know, dem
ocrat, but he was a Union man, and his
/ policy would have healed the troubles be-
tween the north and the south. We would
have escaped the troubles of reconstruc-
ton, and the ku klux would have never
been known. I think / am safe In saying
that he would have been elected had he
been nominated. He stood out as the great
civil leader OF the country, and his record
in this respect was a match for Gen.
Grants military service. His position on
all great issues had been progressive His
| financial theories had been success. He
was strong in all branches Of the demo-
| cratic party and among the republicans as
well. and the contest would have been an
even one"
The Convention of 1865.
"You were in New York at the time that
the convention nominated Horatio Sey-
mour."
Eyes, I went there and stopped with
friends next the Manhattan Club which
was a great democratic headquarters in
those days. I knew that the men who were
managing my fathers interests were not
as well organized as they should be and 1
wanted to be present to prevent any
trouble and to take advantage of any sit
uation which might come up. At first there
seemed to be little doubt but that father
would be Nominated. The night before the
convention Gen. Van Buren,. Gov. Seymour's
secretary came in and told me that Mr.
Seymour would not be candidate and that
he would only accept a complimentary vote
and would then withdraw in favor of
Salmon P. Chase. He told me that Gov
me himself that he intended to do this
but he never came. / did not think he
would at the time and feared that he had
not the strength to carry out his resolu-
ton. He had promised to do something
Of the same kind when he ran for governor
out when the time came he proved too
weak to carry out his promise. 1t was the
same In this convention. He was, you
know. the presiding officer. When his name
name was proposed he said nothing and he
remained In the race until he secured the
nomination"
How Kate Chase Refused the Nomfua-
ton for Her Father.
WAS your father near being nominated?'
asked.
YES" was the reply. AT noon that day
been nominated had the convention not ad-
1ourned. A California delegate had an
nounced his vote for Chase. This was
unexpected and 1t created a sensation. The
convention was In an uproar and a stampede
to my fathers support was imminent. His
enemies prevented this by moving a recess
for dinner and during the recess the combi-
nation was made that nominated Seymour.
The chief reason that my father was not
nominated was the doubt as to whether he
would accept the platform. am sure he
would not have done so. delegation came to
me while the convention was sitting and
told me that If I would authorize them to
assure the convention that father would ac-
cept the platform they would announce this
and 1t would surely secure the nomination
for him. I refused to DO this. told them
that l knew that the platform was not in
accordance with his views and that did
not think he would promise to carry out its
policy. He will do. said |. what he under
stands to be his duty to his country and his
party, but do not think that his ideas of
the right are embodied in that platform
You can telegraph him concerning It, As
ward told me that he could not have ac-
cepted the platform. He had written a let
| ter stating his views. before the convention
was held, and his position on all questions
was well known"
| She Did Not Care for the White House.
How about yourself, Mrs. Chase? It is
said that 1t was your ambition that made
your father most desire to enter the White
House."
Il DO not think that Is So" replied Mrs
Chase. and If you will reason a little you
will see how unfounded it Is was anx-
fous that my father might be President In
order that he might carry out his IDEAS AS
70 social ambition had been in society all
my life. was forced into 1t very young.
At the age of fourteen / was the social
mead OF my fathers establishment at Co.
lumbus when he was the governor of the
whom I had to care for. When / came
70 washington my father was Secretary OF
me treasury, and as the wife of Gov
Sprasue my social duties were equally
great. Inc mere name of being mistress
OF the White House had never a great at
traction Tor me and my fathers health was
sucn mat ! did not want to see him be-
come President and undergo all the worries
ana cares which are associated with the
Chief Executive Of this country He nearly
broke himself down while he was Secre-
gun to recover. He liked his position on
me bench. From his earliest youth the
supreme Court had been the goal Of his
ambition and he felt as did that to be
chief justice Of the Supreme Court was an
honor fully equal to that of the Presi
dency. He liked his life and work as chic,
justice. and he was especially fitted for the
Why Mrs. Lincoln Hated Kate Chn.e
ROW about your father as Secretary OF
the Treasury You speak of the wear
and tear Of the office"
II was terrible" replied Mrs. Chase
He did not want the position, and II vas
against his own inclination that he accent
ed 1t. President Lincoln offered IT to him
while he was still at Columbus He sent
~ Soiie u Springfield, L think
! 90 not remember whether ne went or NOT
ou. Lincoln afterward came to visit hin,
az columbus 1t was just at the time of
the celebration of the anniversary OF the
ferry victory at Cleveland and / had gone
70 cleveland to be present at this. 1t was
az this time that 1 met Gov Sprague for
the nrst time, my fate. Mrs Lincoln came
with the President to Columbus and they
were entertained by Gov. Denison Mrs.
Lincoln was piqued that did not remain
at columbus to see her, and have always
Ieit that this was the chief reason why she
oio not like me at Washington.
HOW Chase Refused the TREASURY
wen, President Lincoln offered father
the secretaryship of the treasury" Mrs.
Chase continued, but my father refused
1t. He had just been elected to the United
states Senate, and he believed that he could
do more there than in the treasury He felt
the same when he came down to Washing
ton and was sworn in as United States
Senator. Pressure, however, from all parts
OF the country and among his friends at
Washington led him to finally resolve 10
take the place. He realized the enormity
OF the undertaking when he accepted the
portfolio. The raising Of money to carry
on the war was as great an achievement as
the raising and equipment Of men for the
field. We had no foreign credit, and the
making Of greenbacks without interest a
legal tender when the country had never