The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-17
Lincoln as a Politician,

III tne course or his interesting lee
ture on Lincoln and His Cabinet" de-
livered at New Haven one week ago
tonight, Hon. Charles a. Dana narrated
one "reminiscences of the great emanci-
pator which he averred had never be-
fore appeared in print. 1t bore on the
question of practical politics, and
showed that, great as he was, Mr.. Lin
coin was none too great to accept con-
ditions as they existed and to strive
to make the best of them. The ques-
ton before the country was the adop-
tion or rejection of the Thirteenth
amendment. This amendment, Mr..
Dana tells us. was intended not mere
ly as means of prohibiting slavery
and decreeing its abolition. but as q
means of affecting the judgment and
the feeling. and the anticipatons of
those In rebellion. 1t was believed that
that amendment to the constitution
would be equivalent to new armies in
the field, equivalent to sending u hun
dred thousand men to fight, because
an Intellectual force that would tend
to paralyze the enemy and break the
continuity of his ideas. In order to
amend the constitution 1t was necessary
first to have the proposed amendment
approved by two-thirds of the states,
and when that question came to be con-
sidered, the issue was seen to be so
close that one state more was necessary.
Then the state of Nevada was organ
lied to answer that purpose, and was
admitted into the Union. / have heard
people sometimes complain of Nevada
as suDertluous and petty state. not
big enough to be state: but when /
hear that complaint i always think of
Abraham Lincoln's saying: 1t is easier
to admit Nevada than to raise another
million Of soldiers"
This. however. is not the ultimate
point. That point is thus outlined by
Mr.. Dana:
When the question finally came around
to be voted upon in the house of repre-
sentatives 1t required three-quarters of
sion, was canvassed earnestly. intensely,
most anXiously for long time before
hand. At last. late one afternoon. the
president came into my office. a room In
the third story of the war department.
He used to coIre there sometimes rarner
than send for me. because he was very
fond OF walking, and liked to go about
II good deal. He came in and smut the
door.
Dana" he said, 81 am very anxious
about this vote. 1t has got to be taken
next week. The time is very short. 1t is
going to be q great deal closer than 1
wish 1t was"
.'There arc plenty of Democrats who wish
to vote for It," ! replied. land who will
vote for It. There is Governor English,
Of Connecticut; think he is sure. isn't
he?"
oh, yes. he is sure, on the merits of the
'"rhen,' said I. there's Sunset Cox, of
Ohio How is he?"
HE is sure and fearless. But there are
some others that l am not clear about.
There are three that you can deal with
better than anybody else, perhaps, as You
know them all. 1 wish you would send
for them
He told me who they were; it isn't neces-
sary to repeat the names here. One man
was from New Jersey and two FROM New
York.
What will they be likely to want?"
o. uOH hHOW, Sdlu Une L
don't know. 1t makes no difference.
though, what they want. Here Is the al
ternat,ve. that we carry this vote or be
compelled to raise another million and I
don't know how many. more men. and
fight no one knows how long. 1t is ques-
ton Of three votes or new armies
"Well, sir" said |. what shall / say
to these gentlemen?''
~ don't know" said he; but say this
to you. that whatever promise you make
to those men, l will perform it,"
Grievous as the fact will be to our
Mugwump friends. Mr.. Dana adds that
he did as Lincoln wished. He saw each
of the three men, and won the support
Of each by offers of patronage. promis-
ing one a custom house appointment,
and the other two. internal revenue COL
lectorships. The collectorships were
given over at once. as agreed; but be-
fore the custom house matter could be
reached, Mr.. Lincoln had been shot,
and Andrew Johnson had become pres
ident. Mr.. Dana says:
I had gone away. and was in the west
when one day l got telegram from Ros-
coe Conkling: Come TO Washington"
50 went He said:
~ want you to 20 and see President
Johnson and tell him that this custom
house affair IL a sacred promise of Mr..
Lincolns. and that 1t must be kept"
Then went to the white house and saw
President Johnson.
'.This IL Mr. Lincoln's promise" urged.
'He regarded 1t as saving the necessity Of
another call for troops, and raising per-
haps q million men to continue the war.
trust. Mr. President, that you will see
your way clear to execute this prom
ise"
/. "Wsll, Nr. Dana" he replied. II don't