The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-25

have given 20 tie manufactures Of ths
country Who dare say that the thoughtful
boy as he .ode leisurely along the thorough
."rc penetrating the dense forests of that
period did not look down the stream Of fimA
through eight decades and contemplate.
Win civic presciencc. the phenomenal prog
iess and results of to-day Rather who
cannot believe that the object lesson afford
ed him OH that occasion was a basis on.
winch 70 rest much Of the superstructurc OF
MS future Statesmanship2
This was the only visit AIr. Lincoln ever
made to Princeton. One of the merchants
IN the village at the time was Robert stock
We'll lie was a shrewd. successful business
man. After amassing considerable wealth
ne removed with his family to Lafayette.
IND. where he greatly augmented his pos
sessions. and where he was residing at the
time OF I.incOn's election To the presidency
When the newly-chosen Republican PreSi-
dent. the first of his liue. made his famous
inaugural trip to Washington. in February.
congra tulate him. When he was introduced
Mr.. Lincoln said. Are yoa related to the
Stockwells who formerly lived in Prince
4 am one OF the number" said Mr.. Stock
When 1 was a boy of fifteen" said Mr.
Lincoln. II took some wool to Princeton 10
be carded. As I entered the village ] was
struck with a sign on the corner of the puh-
ert Stockwel. merchant. 1t was the first
time in my life that had seen gold lettering
on sign, and hence / was strongly inn
pressed. have never forgotten il.
The trait OF mind which enabled Mr. Linz
coin to make sucn careful observations was
the keynvte To- thar store of practical knowi-
edge Of men and things which enabled MIN.
IN Sut sequent lie. 60 always do and say the
right tnins 1T the right time. 1T was tho
iountation of a practical education obtained
sity.
curing those early DAYS was that of the
Embrees. one of the number, Elisha, be-
came q prominent lawyer and politician.
Like Mr.. Lincoln, who was of about the
same age, he was self-educated and
cured his position in life not by the in
1uence OF friends or ancestral fame, but
by virtue of his own abilities. He was
with Lincoln and Greeley through one
term. lie and Lincoln occupied contiguous
seats in the House This fact coupled
with their former neighborship in SOUTH
trends and earnest colaborers in the old
Wien " General Taylor was elected Presi-
dent in 1878 he offered Mr. Embree the
choice of two positions. one the governor
! ship of the Territory of Oregon. the other
some position at the capital. He declined
Doth, but continued to practice law and
nnally became one of the judges OF his dis
One of Judge Embree's grandsons. an
attorney in Princeton, has in his possess
sion letter which the writer saw. giving
the state Of political interest in those days
and revealing some Of the political meth
DDS by which preferment was secured. Since
the letter has not been made public it is
here transcribed. The Mr.. Ewing referred
the first secretary of the Interior Depart
ment which had just been created lie
was appointed by General Taylor on his
accession to the presidency March 4, 1912.
He was the father of the late Gen. Hugh
Ewing and father-in-law of the late Mrs.
William T. Sherman
The letter. which follows. marked con-
fidential," will explain itself
Springfield, ILL.,, May 81 1919.
Hon. T.. Embree:
Dear Slr--I am about to ask a favor OF
you--one which, hope, will not cost you
much.
Il understand the General Land Office is
about to be given to Illinois, and that Mr..
Ewing desires Justin Butterfield, of Chi
cago, to be the man. | give you my word
the appointment of Mr.. y. will be an eyre
glous political blunder. 1t will give offense
to the whole Wing party here and be more
than dead loss to the administration of
so much patronage.
wish you to write General Taylor at once,
saying that either ! or the man / recon-
mend should, in your opinion. be appointed
TO that office If any one from Illinois shall
be. | restrict my request to Illinois be-
cause you may have man of your
or your own State, and do not wish to i'm
terfere with that. Your friend as ever.
"a. LINCOLN
Whether Judge Embreo exerted himself
as requested or not is not known. Mr.
Butterfeld a shrewd politician i'll those
eted prize and Mr. Lincoln was subsequent
ly very thankful he himself was defeated
He remained in the active field of law and
politics and acquired power and experience
for the higher sphere he subsequently
called upon to occupy.