The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-15
Thelntelligencer.
WHEELING, FnnRuAnY IS, iset
Llneeln,. aI.mory vlndlea.etI.

Incident to the celebration OF the
birthday OF Abraham Lincoln. which
has been observed NIL over the country
this week, number OF Democratic and
Populistlc newspapers have resurrected
a paragraph. which they have used
with much effect among thoughtless
people heretofore. 1t purports to be a
quotation from an utterance OF the
great war President. but care has al
ways been taken to avoid citing the
particular speech or letter in which 1t
Is said to have appeared. BY those
who were most intimate with Lincoln 1t
has been denounced Us an invention BY
some campaign liar. Here is the para
graph entire; 1t IS headed "Lincoin's
Prophecy"
see In the near future crisis arising
which unneryes me and causes me to
tremhle for the safety Of my country,
A result OF the war corporations have
been cnthroned, and an era OF corruption
in high places Will follow and the money
power OF the country VIII endehVor 10
prolong its reicn.by working on the preJn-
dices OF the people until all the wealth Is
aggregated In few hands and the re-
public destroyed. feel at this time more
anxiety for the safety OF my country than
ever before, even in the midst OF war.
God grant that my fears may prove
groundlesS.
To anS one who will carefully study
the wording OF the quotation. 1t will up
pear that 1t could not have;been uttered
by President Lincoln, for several rea-
sons. For instance. Its very language
represents 1t as having been said after
the war, when the fact is Lincoln died
before the close OF the war. Again, IL Is
not characteristic of the martyr Presl-
dent. lincoln was not pessimist;
even in the darkest hours OF that period
OF gloom which hung like mighty pail
over the country, he was ever hopeful,
optimistic. even cheerful; he never had
the slightest doubt as 10 the outcome.
The paragraph attributed to him Is at
variance with all his published and well
remembered views regarding the future
OF the republic. The same master mind
the same patriotic heart that conceived
the Gettysburg speech never entertain
cd such sentiments as those contained
In this populistic invention.
Within few days past, additional
and convincing testimony has been
given as to the forgery, for such we
must consider II. Editor Reed, OF the
Ciarksburg Telegram, says he has
taken some pains TO make INQUIRY as 10
the probable author OF the paragraph
Among the letters he has received is
the following from the distinguished
editor OF the Democratic Louisville
Courier Journal:
Hon. s. F. Reed.
Ny Dear sIr:-I fail to trace any such
utterance either to the tongue or pen OF
one else can do 30. i seems 10 me obVi-
HENRY wATTERSoN.
Also the following from the dIstin-
guished editor OF the Democratic Phlla-
deIphia Times:
Hon. Stuart f. Reed,
Dear Slr:-.The quotation you send pur-
porting to be from Lincoln was never
uttered by him. nor anything like II. As
he did not live to sec the end OF the war,
he could not have said that he felt more
anxiety Tor the snlety OF Ine country tNun
ever before, even In the midst Of war. II
n entirely safe TO say that the quotation
Is q pure Invention. YourE truly,
A. X, MCCLURE.
These two letters are important. They
are both from men who have made the
history OF Lincoln n special study and
who followed his career and his utter
ances on all public questions. Colonel
wattcrson especially has devoted his
time to this study and is the author Of
the most popular and complete lecture
on Linc6in's life, character, achieve
pents. his speeches and writings, ever
delivered.
The two men are not In sympathy
with Mr.. Llncoln's party. hut they
stand ready to vindlcate his memory ut
any and all times. There can be little
doubt, everything considered. that the
paragraph which has been the text for
SO many assaults on tho Republican
policy OF protection, which Mr.. Lincoln
helped to formulate and carried into ef.
feet, is a clumsy forgery.