Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-06-03
A STORY ABOUT LINCOLN.
How He Made a Would BE Adviser Fee
the Weight of Responsibility.

How He Made a Would BE Adviser Feel
the Weight of Responsibility.
The following story was told years
ago by Mr.. Dixon of Rhode Island, a
Republican congressman of prominence
in %wartdays. 1t was when the war was
still only half over and many people at
the north felt that a more vigorous pol
icy was demanded. There had been o
meeting of prominent northern men, in
Guiding governors of northern states.
They passed resolutions that the CAM
paigu should be more aggressive and
commissioned Mr.. Dixon to call IN Mr.
Lincoln, tell him of the meeting and
read to him a record Of it's conclusions.
Mr.. Dixon said that he undertook the
task with a good deal of satisfaction
and felt like a very large sized man
when he went up to the White House
one evening to deliver himself of his
mission.
Mr.. Lincoln listened without inter-
ruption to what Mr.. Dixon had to say,
a silence which added not a little to the
impressiveness Of the latter's eloquence.
When Mr.. Dixon was through, Mr.. Liz
coin said to him: "Dixon, you are a
good fellow. and I have always had a
high opinion Of you. 1t is needless for
me to add that what comes from those
who sent you here is authoritative. The
governors of the northern states are the
north. What they decide must be car
ried out. Still, in justice to myself, you
must remember that Abraham Lincoln
is the president of the United States.
Anything that the president Of the
United States does, right or wrong,
will be the act of Abraham Lincoln, and
Abraham Lincoln will by the people be
held responsible for the president s ac-
ton. But I have a proposition to make
to YOU Go home and think the matter
over. Come to me tomorrow morning
at 9 o'clock, and I will promise to dc
anything that you by then have deter.
mined upon as the right and proper
thing to do. Good night"
Mr.. Dixon left the White House feel
ing ever larger than when he entered
it, assured that the president put a high
er value upon his abilities than he him
self supposed. Diminishing this pleasant
thought, he consulted with himself az
to what should be done when the re
sponsibility fell on him to decide thu
policy Of the president Of the United
States. Many suggestions occurred t.
him, but one after another was dismiss
ed as for some reason out OF the qucs
ticn. When morning light broke, 1t
had not determined upon his course
upon the policy which he was to i'm
pose Upon the president. He decided b
would not go to the White House tina
morning. He did not 60 the next da,
or the next.
Indeed three weeks went by before b
saw the president. Then it was at a re
ceptio1r at Secretary Stewards, and Mr.
Dixon tried to get by in the crowd with
out attracting special attention. Blu
the long arm of the president shot out
grabbed Dixon and dragged him on
side. "By the way, Dixon said MI
Lincoln, II believe I had an appoint
ment with you one morning about thre
weeks ago." Mr.. Dixon said he did re
l call a mention of something of the sort
"Where have you been all these weeks?
asked the president. "Here in Washing
ton" said Mr.. Dixon; "but, to tell tn
truth, Mr.. President, I have decide
, never to keep that appointment.
1 thought you would not when l made
for you," was Mr.. Lincoln's common
1t makes a big difference when a ma
. has the say, when the responsibility rest
individually on him, as to what he wi
do or refrain from doing.-Naterbur
S American.