Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-04-16

,
yet 90, the candle was burned out
his intirmities were no greater than
those of Clay, not to be mentioned
with those of Webster. But he
lived in more eXacting times. The
oid-style party organ with its mock
herOics and dull responsibility, its
beggarly array Of empty news COL
umns, and cheap advertising, had
been succeeded by that unsparing,
tell-tale scandal mopger, modern
Journalism, with its myriad of hands
and eyes, its ubiquitous detective
corps and its quick transit over
flashing wires annihilating time
and space. Too fierce light beat
upon the private life of public men.
and Douglas suffered from this as
Clay and Webster, Silas Wright and
FRANKLIN Pierce had not suffered.
The Presidential bee was in his
bonnet, certainly; but its buzzing
there was not nOisier than in the
b0nnets of other great Americans
who have been dazzled by that
wretched bauble. His plans and
schemes came to naught. He died
at the moment when the death of
those plans and schemes was made
more paipable and more impressive
by the roar of cannon prOClaiming
the reality Of the irrepreSsible CON
tict he had refused to fOreSee and
had struggled to avert. His life
long rival was at the head of affairs.
No one has had occasion to come to
the rescue of his fame. No party
interest has been identified with his
memory. But when the truth of
history is written it will be told that
not less than Webster and Clay, he,
too, was patriotic man who loved
his country and tried to save the
Union. He tried to save the Union,
even as Webster and Clay had tried
to save it, by compromises and eX-
pedientS. II was too late. The
string was played out. Where they
had succeeded he failed but for the
nobility Of his intention, the ampii-
tude of his resources, the splendor
of his combat he merits all that any
leader of any losing cause over
gained in the report of posterity
and posterity will not deny him the
title of statesman.
TITAN ARRAYED AGAINST TITAN.
In that great debate it was Titan
against Titan and, perusing it after
the lapse of nearly forty years, the |
and impartial critic will |
conclude which got the better of it, |
Lincoln or Douglas, much according
to his particular sympathy with one
Or the other. Douglas, as / have
said had the disadvantage of riding
IN ebb tide. But Lincoln encoun-
.ered a disadvantage in riding flood
.ide which was flowing too fast for
man so conservative and so honest
as he was. Thus there was not a lit
lie equivOcation on both sides for
'ign to the nature of the two. Both
to be frank. Both thought
hey were being frank. But each
vas little afraid of his logic; each
vas little afraid of his following;
md hence there was a deal of hair
splitting, involving accusations that
lid not accuse, and deniaIs that did
lot deny. They were politicians,
hese two, as well as statesmen.-
They were politicians, and what they
|
was hardly worth knowing.
Reverently | take off my hat to both
IF them, and turn down the page. 1
;lose the book and lay it on the shelf
with the ejaculation "There were
giants in those days"
am now undertaking to deliver
IN oral biography Of Abraham Lin
coin, and shall pass over the events
which quickly led up to his nomina-
ion and election to the presidency
n 1860. | met the newly elected
President the afternoon Of the day
n the early morning of which he
laG arrived i'm Washington. 1t was
Saturday, think. He came to the
capital under Mr.. Stewards escort,
and, among the rest, was presented
20 him. His appearance did not inn
press me as Enthusiastically as it had
impressed Colonel Mcclure. was
more familiar with the Western |
type than Colonel Mcclure, and,
while Mr.. Lincoln was certainly not |
an Adonis, even after prairie ideals, |
there was about him rugged dig.
nity that commanded respect.
| met him again the next Monday
forenoon in his apartment at Will
ards Hotel, as he was preparing to |
start to his inauguration, and was
struck by his unaffected kindness,
for ] came with matter recurring his |
He was entirely selfpos-
Sessed-nO trace of nervousness -
and very Obliging. | accompanied |
the cortege that went from the Sen. |
ate chamber to the east portico of
the capitol. AS Mr.. Lincoln removed |
his hat to face the vast multitude in
front and below, / extended my
hand to take it, but Judge Douglas,
Just behind me, reached over my
Outstretched arm and received it,
holding it throughout the delivery
of the inaugural address. | stood |
Just near enough to the speakers ell |
bow not to Obstruct any gestures he
might make, though he made but
few, and then began to understand
of the real power of the
man.
He delivered his inaugural address
as though he had been delivering in
augural addresses all his life. Firm,
iN0'ho'', S"i iSStJ IL dililOubCtu tnt
Of man, of leader of
men; and in its ringing tones and
style, the gentlemen whom
he had invited to become members
of his political family, each one of
whom ct bottom thought himself
his masters equal or superior, might
have heard the voice and seen the
hand Of one born to rule. Whether
they did or not, they very soon as.
certained the fact. From the hour