The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-06
LINCOLN IN NEW YORK
"REMINISCENCES OF HIS FAMOUS
SPEECH AND VISIT THERE IN 1860.
shrewd Politics Behind the Cooper
Union Address-LincOln's Lonely
RaIhbles About the City.

national canvasses is concerned, was per-
haps due to the fact that in the early six
ties, at the time Of the presidential cam
paign which resulted in the election of Lin
coin, two very able New York financiers
directed one. the Republican canvass. and
the other in great measure. the Democratic.
These were Governor Morgan and August
Belmont. who were. Notwithstanding their
political rivairies, warm personal friends.
Then it was that the use of money in con-
siderable amounts began, and perhaps ii
was largely due to the fact that the New
York men of influence who were interested
In the success of one or the other parties
were able to provide campaign funds which
aggregated more than were received from
all other quarters. that this tendency to
establish New York as the center of active
national politics became permanent.
1t was in 1850 also that those who were
looked upon as probable or possible can
didates for the presidential nomination be-
gan to visit New York to consult with its
politicians to inform themselves. and per-
haps to ingratiate themselves with those
who were OF influence. Some of the older
politicians remember very well the first i'm
portant visit OF this kind made by a man
who in some parts of the country was re-
ceiving daily indications that he would be
supported with enthusiasm for the presi-
Dental nomination. That man was Abra-
ham Lincoln, and his visit to New York,
in February, 1860. was an example which
many of those who have sought the nomi-
nation or who have secured 1t have since
that day followed.
There are no more delightful anecdotes
than those which relate some Of Mr.. Lin
coins experiences when In this city al
that time. and these anecdotes are all the
mn a n oh Ia hnao nee boy a a
who had personal experience with the IN
cidents which they describe. 1t is now
clear to men like Cephas Brainerd. and VII,
liam NJ. Evarts, and Parke Goodwin and
others, who had some share in the enter
tainment of Lincoln, and some part In the
invitation which brought him to this city.
that they were the unconscious instru-
mentS in carrying out a fine piece OF politi-
cal strategy which had been conceived In
the West by such men as David Davis, o;
H. Browning and Norman Judd, who mad
been ever since Lincoln's debates with
Douglas united in the purpose OF making
MT: Lincoln the Republican candidate IN
Lincoln's friends had no doubt OF their
ability to command for Lincoln the support
Of majority OF the delegates Of the Mis-
sissppi valley. They knew, however, that
Lincoln was misunderstood and appreciated
at far less than his intellectual worth in
the centers OF cultivation and wealth in
the East. There Seward, with his college
training, his experience as Governor of New
York and in the Senate. his charm Of man
ner. his capacity for powerful and plausible
argument had become the idol. and 1t was
felt to be necessary to demonstrate to the
men Of the East, who were OF influence In
the Republican party, that Mr.. Lincoln In
his time, and that he hau as profound an
understanding of the momentous questions
OF the day as Mr.. Seward or any other rep
resentative Republican,.
WHY LINCOLN CAME TO GOTHAM
Therefore. in some way which has never
- -
New York city were persuaded to invite
Mr. Lincoln to deliver an address in Cooper
Union upon Washington's birthday. or such
other day near that time as might be con-
venient to him, and Norman Judd and Da-
yid Davis were rejoiced when the invitation
was received. We now know that almost
all the preparation which Mr.. Lincoln had
for that address so far as books were con-
proceedings Of the convention which framed
the Constitution gave him. He read those
reports SO far as they related to the ques-
ton Of slavery, mastered the arguments
and, with a sentence OF Senator Douglass
as text. prepared his speech. Like all his
more important addresses. IL was carefully
Office at the time Mr. Lincoln was speaking
from the Cooper Union platform. After
that speech was finished he went TO the
Tribune office, and. holding the manuscript,
followed the proofreader so that errors
might be corrected. That proofreader,
who is now member of Congress, Amos j.
Cummings, after Mr.. Lincoln had gone
from the Tribune Office, tossed that man
uscr,pt into waste basket little thinking
that he was thus destroying something
that would have had historical. sentimental
and pecuniary value.
The effect produced by Mr.. Lincoln's APP
pearance. and especially by the speech it
self, was precisely that which his friends in
the West expected 1t was an effect which
greatly aided them in their canvass for Mr..
Lincoln's nomination, and Ii was, perhaps,
the first suggestion of the value there
who was prominent enough to be consid-
cred favorably in connection with a presi-
Dental nomination.
Mr.. Cephas Brainerd, who was one OF the
committee appointed TO escort Mr.. Lincoln
to Cooper Union, and who sat upon the
platform. says that he never saw intel
iectual power so influential with an audi
ence OF learned and cultivated men as this
one was, as IL was upon that night. VIII
and beard even then being hoary with
years. himself esteemed as one OF the
greater American poets. as we'll as a jour
speech scarcely moving, being apparently
Completely under the spell OF Lincoln's
logic. Governor Morgan listened like one
at first amazed, and then absolutely per-
suaded He was one of those who thought
the reports of Lincolns power were exag-
g men Of the prsiries. He saw man in
whom intellectual capacity dominated per-
sonal characteristics. which were due
wholly to the homely and simple life, in
which luxury was almost unknown. which
Lincoln had led with the plain people OF
the prairies. Some of the ablest lawyers
at our bar listened with the rapt attention
which indicates absorbing interest. and the
common word which, passed from one TO
another after the address was over was
that it's pre-eminent ability indicated that
this was master mind and his influence
in the West was wholly due to that power.
KEPT HIS COUNSEL.
Aside from the Cooper Union address.
however. Mr.. Lincoln during his visit was
careful in no way to suggest that he had
any other purpose than to respond as well
as in him lay to the fattering invita-
ton of New York Republicans to address
them So far as is now known he refused
to talk upon political matters. excepting in
the most general way. with those whom he
saw. Thus he completely disarmed suspi-
cion and left at the same time an impress
humor and keen interest in many Of those
things which gave material prosperity to
New York. For instance. walking with a
Republican friend through Wall street, only
that he might crafty curiosity 10 see the
old friend whom he had years before known
in Springfield, and who had come TO New
York to better his fortune. I-incoln's greet
ing was hearty and unaffected as would
prairie road. After they had chatted a lit
tie about old times and old friends, Mr.
Lincoln said: well, have you made the for
tune that you hoped TO make when you
came to New York;" And the reply was. II
to get 1t back again. How have you pros
pered% Mr. Lincoln answered instantly
We'll. I have done pretty Well i own my