The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-03
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
AND HIS CABIN.T
Portions Of N Instructive Lecture BY
Hon. Charles A. Dana.
THE sAvlORs OF THE UNION

An Estimate of the Men Who Advised
the War President During the Great.
est Emergency Of Modern Times,
with Illustrative Anecdotes.
Following are some of the more in
teresting portions Of Charles A. DanaS
recently delivered lecture on Lincoln
and His Cabinet" although there is
nothing in the lecture, as published In
the Sun. that Is uninteresting. When
Mr.. Lincoln was inaugurated as Presi-
dent his first act was to name his cabi-
net; and II was a common remark at
the time that he had put into the cabi-
net every man who had competed with
him for the nomination in the Repub-
lican National convention. The first in
Importance, In consequence, was Will
liam H. Seward, Of New York. He had
been the most prominent competitor
with MIR. Lincoln. 1t had been feared
by many of those who were opposed to
MIR. Stewards friends-he had no per-
sonal opposition, but some OF his friends
had q good DEALT was feared by those
who were opposed to his friends that II
he became president his friends would
run the government, and run 1t for pur-
poses that all might not approve. tie
was made secretary Of state
1t Is worth while to notice this: the
great opposition against Mr.. Seward
was because he was New Yorker. ana
the Republican party In New YORK was
under the control, more or less decided.
Of what Is called boss. And they said
there shouldn't be any boss, but that
the party should direct itself. Well,
exactly what that means, l have not
been able to understand. An army with
out O general Is of no use, and ship
without a captain doesn't get navigated
safely. l notice, too. that the class of
politicians who are most strenuous
against bosses are those who are not
able to control for themselves the boss
who happens to be in power In their dis
trict or their state. At any rate. that
objection, managed by skilful polite
ians, and aided by MIR. Lincoln's per
sonal popularity in the West, availed
sufficiently to deprive Mr.. Seward of the
nomination.
The second man in importance to be
put into the cabinet was Mr.. Chase, of
Ohio. He was q very able, noble and
spotless statesman: man who would
have been worthy OF the best days Of
the old Roman republic. He had been
candidate. though less conspicuous
tuuu 6cWdTu, anu was uiSo IL
date against whom the opposition that
had been raised against Mr.. Seward
would not have availed. because while
Mr. Seward had friend who was the
boss Of the Republican party in New
York, Mr. Chase bossed it himself in
Ohio.
JUSTICE TO CAMERON.
Then there was Mr.. Cameron. If
Pennsylvania. He was made secretary
of war. A very able man: a practical
politician of immense knowledge and
resource; In earlier days a friend of
General Jackson: one of the first and
most decided statesmen to embrace the
Republican cause and to advocate the
Republican doctrine. He held the Office
Of secretary Of war only a little over q
y year, think. and there was an outcry
against him because, they said, he was
q buying too many guns, too many arms;
4 ne was spending too much money. And
those who were against bosses were
against this expenditure, because. they
said, they didn't think 1t could be quite
correct. But all these things were in
vestigated afterward and nothing was
ever proved against Simon Cameron ex-
cept this. that he was man with a
manly heart in his bosom. that he ap-
preciated the magnitude of the contest
that was upon us, and prepared for II
accordingly. His preparations were
equal to the danger at hand; and, in
stead of being decried. he ought to have
had, and finally obtain, the full credit
that was entitled to him as a wise, pa
triotic, and provident statesman.
Next, Mr.. Bates, Of Missouri, was
made attorney general He also had
been run a good deal as a candidate fol
the presidential nomination against Mr.
seward, but there had never been any
GREAT probability that he would get it
He was O most eloquent speaker and a
very fair lawyer, and he served out III.
time In the cabinet until the end of the
administration. He was, an amiablt
and a gifted ma entirely creditablt
and sstisteatQH without possessing
any,extraordinS genius or any un'
4 uSxal force of lracter. Then. there
was Mr.. c. B. smith. of Indiana, whit
gomery Flair, of Maryland, q Democrat
Of the old school, waN postmaster-gen
eral; all eminent, ableN useful men.
I must not forget, in fbis rapid review
of the assistants of Mr.. Lincoln, tho
members of the cabinet, to speak of tn;
Connecticut member, Gideon Welles
He was secretary Of the navy; and an
happy at this distance to testify to the
truth that he was an excellent secre
tary. He was man of no decorations
There was no noise In the street wher
duty, and he did 1t efficiently, contin
ually, and unvaryingly. Other mer
were more conspicuous because the,
were brought more Immediately in con
tact with the people. The navy Is Of
at sea. and we don't see all the tim'
what 1t Is doing am able to testif,
that Mr.. Welles was perfect faithful
able, and successful public officer Tn,
navy under his control was far NOR,
efiicient-it is true 1t was larger-ant
II was more energetic than 1t had eve
been before In our day. He was a sat
isfactory and substantial member 0
the government, and was always cred
liable to the state that sent him forth
EDWIN NJ. STANTON.
When Mr.. Cameron went out of tn
cabinet, Mr.. Lincoln following the ad
vice both of Cameron and of Charlie
Sumner. selected as his successor in tn
war department Mr. Edwin NJ Stanton
Stanton was an old States right Demo
crat He had never voted anything bu
the Democrat ticket up to that time H
was q very ordinary man. and |
was through him that came to be pu
into the War department, and had tn
opportunities of acquiring the variou
information that ! hoce to lay befor
you this evening.
Mr. Stanton was short, thick, darl
man, with q very large head and a mas
of black hair. He was very intense
and one of the most eloquent men tha
ever met. He was entirely absorbe
in his duties. His energy was somethin
almost superhuman. and when he too
hold Of the War department the armie
seemed to grow, and they certainl
gained in force and vim and thorough
ness. The time Of preparation whic
to US had before seemed so long an
tedious that we were almost losin
hope, that time came to an end, and tn
time of action began. said that MI