The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-27

and was scrupulously careful that none
OF his personal expenses should be paid
by tie goVef nment. All of the bills con-
Eected with the Prince of Wales visit
to Washington were settled by Blu
chanan,a and the cost of the trip to Mount
Vernon was privately arranged for be-
tween him and Mr.. Cobb, the secretary
of the treasury. Congress was not ask
ed for cent, and even the fuel which
was used for the revenue cutter for
that day was paid for by the president.
President Buchanan never thought Of
Planning hunting excursions and va
catiCn tours for himself, on government
vessels, as our presidents have done
Of late years. During his stay in the
White house he entertained to such an
extent that his salary was hardly equal
to his expenses. 1t cost him much
mere than his salary to live when he
was minister to England. The salary
OF the minister at that time was in the
neighborhood of $4,000, with a slight
addition for travelling expenses between
London and the United States. Mrs.
Johnston tells me that Mr.. Buchanan
paid almost his whole salary for his
house rent, and that she understood
that it required all his private income
IN addition to meet his expenses He
appreciated the dignity of the British
mission, and knew that in order to do
efficient work his social expenditures
must be great. He was one of the few
ministers whom we have sent to Lon
don who was popular both with the
English and the people here at home.
This rigid code Of official honor. Mrs.
Johnston says, was kept by Buchanan
throughout his life. He devoted the
most Of his years to politics and states
manship. He held many official posi-
tons, and yet he never made a cent out
Of politics. All of his fortune was ac-
cumulated at the law before he began
his political career, and he was so
clean-handed as to have always been
above suspicion.
HOW BUCHANAN LOOKED.
There are a number of fine portraits
OF President Buchanan in Mrs. john
stonS home. Among others she show
ed me a beautiful miniature painted
by famous artist when Mr.. Buchanan
was in his prime. It represents a face
much handsomer and more human than
the stiff and stately figures shown in
the ordinary engravings In it the
complexion of the president is rosy,
his eyes are as blue as the summer
skies and his face is full Of kindness
and soul
Mrs Harriet Lane Johnston almost
Worships the memory of her uncle. She
says the world of today does not know
MN, and that history has not done
credit to his ability. She describes in
VIVID words the troublous times Of his
administration, when the North and the
South were being torn apart, and when
one by or the president saw the frie nd
who had promised to uphold him leav-
lrg congress to engage in secession
and in plots to destroy the govern
ment. The wear and tear of that time
was such that it ultimately caused his
death. Mrs. Johnston thinks her uncle
was the only one of the great public
men who realized what the results Of
the war would be in the loss of proper-
ty and life, and that he was the only
one who appreciated how imminent war
was. President Buchanan. she saws
did all that he could to prevent seces,
sion. He strove to harmonic and tn
hold back the South, and he saw that
his efforts were in vain. He was true
to his country, and to his conscience.
and the fact that he could not save
his country from war killed him. He
was throughout in spirit and in deed a
friend Of the people, never wavering
for moment in his loyalty to his trust.
L asked Mrs. Johnston as to whether