The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-08-11
SECRETARY STANTON.

The Life and Public Services of Ed
win NJ Stanton" by George G. Cor
ham, again brings before the public the
character of Lincoln's great War
Secretary.
Among the incidents of his life is one
which exhibits the moral grandeur OF
Lincoln's character more than any
event in his life Stanton was war
Democrat, and ridiculed Lincoln con-
stantly and openly. But when Lincoln
was informed that Stanton was the
best man to conduct the enormous
business of the war office, he promptly
appointed him to the office. Harnden
in his Life of Lincoln, made known to
the world, that in 1857, Stanton, Hard
ing, and Lincoln were engaged on the
same side in an important litigation re-
garding a reaper patent. Stanton
treated Lincoln as if he was a country
shyster, and kept him in the back
ground during the trial. On reaching
home Lincoln said that he had been
'Hroughed' by Stanton, and crowded
out of his place. He also heard of the
mean things Stanton said about him.
Harding the other counsel in the case,
was noted patent lawyer of Philadel-
phia, and he had treated Lincoln with
consideration, and retained his friend
ship. Some years after the war, Hard
ing gave an account of Stanton's ap-
pfinh rlc
United States District Attorney and
a class mate of the writer, who re-
peated it to him, and it now appears
in this book.
Lincoln called Harding to Washing
ton, and said to him that he wished
to show that he had no partisan aims,
and desired to have Stanton in his
Cabinet as he was honest, able, intelli-
gent, and could manage the vast bust
ness of the department. He was we'll
aware of the fact that Stanton was
constantly abusing him, but he asked
Harding to be his messenger to STAN
ton Offering him the Office. When
Stanton received the message, he was
u. d
long pause he said to Harding: do
you tell me, Harding, that Mr.. Lincoln
sent this message to me?" Harding
replied that he had. Then Stanton,
with streaming eyes replied: Tell him
that such magnanimity will make me
work with him as man was never
served
And so he did. Those of us who had
dealings with him, hated him then, and
now, for his arrogance, his unjust
impetuosity. his apparent heartless-
ness But we failed to see that he had
to deal with an army of a million of
men, the officers Of which were ignor-
ant, and thousands of them incom
petent, while lat the other end of the
Avenue the capitol the politicians
trying to run his department. His
loyalty to Lincoln never weakened.
In this incident Lincoln exceeded
the magnanimity of Washington.
Another instance of Lincoln's mag
nanimity appears in his treatment of
Secretary of the Treasury Chase, who
was afterwards appointed Chief Justice
by Mr. Lincoln Mr.. Chase had re-
solved to be made President. He was
electioneering in every direction dur
ing 1863 and 1864 A number of prom
inent Republicans Joined him. SUM
ner, Greeley, Wade Henry Winter
Davis. Fremont and Wilson were
among them. When Chase, caught in
the act OF nominating himself for the
Presidency, confessed it to Lincoln and
offered to resign his office, Lincoln re-
piled: whether you shall remain at
the head of the Treasury Department
or not, l will not allow myself to con-
slider from any standpoint other than
my Judgment of the public service, and
I do not perceive occasion for
change.
1t is the men of this stamp in the
Anglo-Saxon race, and they may be
counted by the thousands, who make
the Flag an honor and glory of the
nation, and do not look to the Flag for
instruction or inspiration in searching
for the higher road to the best duty.
Lincoln carried the Sermon on the
Mount in his pocket, and forgot the
Flag.