The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-03

about slavery and the cOlOred race.
do because believe 1t helps to save the
union; and what I forbear, l forbear
because ! do not believe it would help
to save the union. shall do less when
ever l shall believe what / am doing
to save the union, shall do less when
ever shall believe doing more will help
the cause. / shall try to correct errors
when shown to be errors, and l shall
adopt new views so fast as they shall
appear to be true views. have here
stated my purpose according to my view
Of official duty; and intend no mOdifl-
cation Of my oft-expressed personal
wish that all men everywhere could be
free"
Another remarkable quality was his
personal kindness. He was kind at
heart, not from mere Doliteness. AS
said, I never heard him say an unkind
thing about anybody. Now and then
he would laugh at something jocose or
satirical that somebody had done or
said, but 1t was always pleasant humor
I noticed his sweetness of nature par
ticularly with his little son, child at
that time perhaps six or eight years old,
who used to roam the departments. and
whom everybody called Tad. He had a
defective palate and couldn't speak very
plainly. Often have sat by his father
matter that l had been ordered to in
quire into. and he would have this boy
on his knee: and. while he would per-
fectly understand the report, the strik-
ing thing about him was his affection
for his child. He was good to every
body. Once there was a great gather
ing at the White House on New Years
Day, and all the diplomats came In their
uniforms, and all the officers of the
army and navy in Washington were in
full costume. A little girl Of mine said:
| Papa, couldn't you take me over to see
| that?" I said yes; SO took her over,
| and put her in q corner where she be-
| held this gorgeous show. When 1t was
| finished, went up to Mr.. Lincoln and
said: II have a little girl here who
wants to shake hands with YOU" He
went over to her and took her IN and
kissed her and talked to her. She will
never forget 1t II she lives to be thou
sand years old. That was the nature of
the man. I must tell another story to
illustrate the same point.
CONSIDERABLE MAN.
Whenever an important campaign of
! the armies began, Mr.. Lincoln liked to
send me, because when I went, with nay
newspaper experience, he got clear re-
port of everything that happened. The
| generals didn't like to sit down, after
fighting all day, and write a report, and
they were always glad to have me come
to them. Well, when Gen. Grant went
out for the campaign in the Wilderness
that was the last campaign which
ended in the surrender of Richmond
for two days we had no reports. One
| evening ! got message to come to the
War department. There / found the
President and Mr.. Stanton. Mr.. Lin
coin said: I'VE are troubled about this
business down in the Wilderness. We
don't know what Is going on. l would
! like you to go down." l said: Ger
tainly''
How soon can you be ready?" said
he. said: 1T will take twenty minutes
to go home and change my clothes and
get the things that l want to take, and
get my horse saddled, and then it will
! take twenty minutes to get train. Be-
sides, we must have an escort"
"Well," said he. you are willing to
go?"
| why. yes" / said; Il am delighted.
I want to see it." So I went and order
ed a train, got my things all ready
and got an escort provided to defend
the train after we had got out beyond
our lines, and then went down and got
into a car. Somehow we didn't start
and presently there came man or
horseback. who said to me: "The
president wants you at the War de.
| partnnent." SO rode back to the Wal
department, and there was Mr.. Lin.
coin with Mr.. Stanton. The president
said:
II have been thinking about this
Dana, and l don't like to send you
There is Jeb Stuart with his calvary
roaming over the region that you will
have to cross, and I am afraid to have
you 60" Said I: "Mr. Lincoln, is tha
the reason you caMed me back here?'
Yes" he said. II don't like to have
you CO." I said: II don't think thai
Is a very good reason, because I have
a good horse and forty troopers, ant
we are able to run II they are too man;
for us, and If they arc not, we car
fight" We'll" said he, ~ am glad t,
hear you say that. because I really
want you to go. but I couldn't sent
you out until felt sure that you wer,
entirely willing to 60" "'Well," l an
swered. you are the first general tha
4 ever gave orders in that way, guess.
That was the man kindly and affec
tionate to everybody. l don't believ,
ne ever spoke cross word to his wife
That Is saying good deal, isn't 1t
gentlemen?
These are amiable and loving per
sonal qualities, but the great thin,
was the fact that he succeeded: tina
the civil war was ended under hi
rule. He succeeded, with the forces O
the antl-slavery states, In putin,
down rebellion in which twelve mil
lions Of people were concerned, de
i termined people. educated people
fighting for their ideas and their prop