The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-18
4 ] j.1l|2Iltt !

this Lincoln would not do. He settled
down among the men ne owed. ana
promised TO pay them. For fifteen years
he carried this debt, assumed in 1884. In
1913, when member Of Congress. he sent
home money saved from his salary, TO De
applied on these obligations.
The story that Lincoln was insane at
one time during his engagement TO Miss
Mary Todd. and that he failed to appear
on the date set for his wedding, is en-
phatically contradicted by Miss Tarbell.
who gives the strongest testimony from
old friends and relatives. TO the effect that
no such occurrence ever took place, thougn
Ii is true that the engagement was broken
after marriage had been talked OF. Inc
reason for this seems to have been Lin
coins doubt rs to his ability to make
Miss Todd happy. An earlier love affair.
the story of which has been often told. had
left him subject TO attacks of melancholia.
and his sensitive nature and delicate sense
of honor may easily have led him to feel
hat be had no right 10 marry any woman
whom he did not love with the fervor OF
first affection. However this may have
been. the marriage finally did take place,
almost without preparation. and from the
various letters and anecdotes recorded in
the rest of the book there is no reason TO
suppose that IL did not prove happy one.
Efforts have recently been made TO i'm
press the public with the idea that Lincoln
was not decided and uncompromising OPP
ponent of slavery; that he was Southern
man by birth. and sympathized strongly
with the South. in spite OF the position into
which he was forced as a Republican Presi-
dent at most critical time. These efforts
are rather significant. being part Of natu-
raj reaction against certain extreme ideas
and measures of the reconstruction era. 1t
is. therefore, important to understand the
precise attitude OF Lincoln on this subject.
for since he has come 10 be regarded as
unquestionably the greatest American OF
his time his real views, not distorted opin-
ions, should be taken as authority on the
questions which came SO near dividing the
nation in two. The documents given in this
book seem to settle the matter beyond pcs
sible doubt
In all of his speeches while a candidate
for Congress. Lincoln appears as a frank
opponent OF slavery, though not an i'm
passioned or vituperative one. He takes
occasion again and again to declare the
peculiar institution" an unmitigated
evil 1t is recorded of him that he reused
fellow politician one night by sitting
up in bed and exclalming: This Govern
ment cannot exist half slave and nalf
free" He believed at one time that sla-
very would, il left alone. die natural
death In the States where il existed, and
advocated non-interference on that ac-
count: but be always strenuously opposed
its extension. and finally became convinced
that were il allowed to exist at all. its
extension was a certainty. When he be-
came President. he took solemn oath TO
do all he could 10 preserve the Union. and
that duty thus became paramount. When
il became evident that emancipation was
best for the interests OF that cause. he
signed the Emancipation Proclamation;
but he regarded the preservation Of the
Union as his first duty. There is abso-
,utely no evidence that he ever regarded
slavery, per Sc, as anything but an evil:
but he recognized the fact that any at
tempt to interfere with 1t directly and
Immediately would probably cause more
evil and suffering than 1t would cure.
therefore NJ rs-lrsis' licy OF nom
interference Niih faz on where il
existed. he wsz he stsinslsit Of common
sense. &c saw the IDEAL as cl,aily as any
man, but what gave him his power over
men was his ability 70 see with equal
clcarness what could be done at the mo-
ment This was combined VITA an extra
ordinar- seusitiyeness to the claims OF alb
solute 5ustice-and the combination was
remarkable. Justice, in the
end, il always common sense, but II takes
a ong-headed man and genius to see that
fact sometimes.
As time went on. Lincoln became more
ard more involved in the burning question
OF the day. In 1897 he was one OF the only
two members of the Illinois Assembly who
we're willing 10 declare that 1.-The institu-
tion of slavery is founded on both iDjus-
lice and bad policy In 1919 he drew up
and presented bill 10 abolish slavery in
the Dis,riciaef Columbia. Here is an ex-
tract from a speech made in 1854:
This declared indifference. but. as must think
covert real real, for the spread of slavery, !
cannot but hate. hate II because OF the mon
strous injustice oil slavery itself hate it be-
cause ii cepTiyes our republican example OF Its
just influence ia the world. enables the enemies
Of free institutions with FEASIBILITY 10 tsunt
as hypoeritesi causes the real friends OF freedom
to doubt our sincerity; aad especially because il
forces so many men among ourselves into an open
war with the very fundamental principles Of civil
liberty, criticising the Declaration Of indepcnd-
cree, and insisting that there is no night principle
Of action but self-interost. The doc
trine OF seli-gorernmcnt Is right, absolutely and
right, but it has no just application as
hoc attempted.
Or perhaps ] should rather say that whether il
has such application depends upon whether a
negro is or is not man. IL he is not man, in
that he who IL a man may matter OF
do Just what he pleases with him.
But If the negro is man, is j; not 10 that eS-
tent total distinction OF seligoyernment TO
say that he, too, shall not govern himself! When
the white governs himself that is self govern
nent; but when he governs himself and also
governs another man, that is more than self
sovernmeni-that is despotism. II the negro 10
man, why then, my ancient faith teaches me
hat 'all men are created equal and that there
ran be moral right in connection with one
mans making q slave Of another.
Judge Douglas, frequently, with bitter irony
and sarcasm. parsphrasos argument by say
ing, The white people oi Nebraska good
enough to govern themselves, but they not
good enough TO govern few miserable negroes"
Welt ! doubt not that the people OF Nebraska
Are and viii continue TO be as good as the average
Of people elsewhere. do not say the contrary.
What do say Is that no man is good enough 10
govern another man without that others consent
That seems to be sufficiently definite for
anyone.
Ii was in the campaign against Douglas
that Lincoln made a cutting speech which
has been often quoted:
I suppose the Institution of slavery really looks
mall TO him. He IS 50 put up by nature that a
ash upon his back would hurt him, but lash
Ipon anybody else's back does not hurt him
Another strong feature OF Miss Tarbells
history is the vividness with which she
describes important crises in tbs history
OF the nation, OF which Lincoln vas the
central figure. Among the notable chap
tiers in the book are those which describe
Lincoln's nomination for the Presidency
in 1860, his Inauguration, and his death
and funeral The pictures of Lincoln's life
in Washington are graphic and lifelike. |
Two anecdotes told of the early days of
his Presidency are somewhat amusing.
"what is the matter, Mr.. Lncolng' said
friend one day, when he saw him looking par
ticulsrly grave and dispirited. Has anything
gone wrong At the fgontf"
no." said the President with a tired smile.
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