The National tribune., 1900-05-31
TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON c.. THURSDAY 81
EVERYDAY LIFE OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
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HDI\(1lllM LllNSOLIN.
| tContinued from first page.)
Faragut, though unquestionably good
routine officer, who obays orders and in a
general way carries out his instructions. "
LOYALTY TO HIS FRIENDS.
Loyalty to his friends was one Of the
strongest traits in Mr.. Lincolns simple
and steadfast nature. 1t was put to the
proof daily during his life in Washington
and withstood every test. Mr.. Gurdon S
Hubbard, in a brief but interesting me-
mortal. relates one or two interviews held
| with the President, in which the simplicity
of his character and his fidelity to old
friendships appear very conspicuously
Mr.. Hubbards acquaintance with Mr.
Lincoln was Of long standing. They
had first met while the latter was serving
in the Legislature of Illinois, in the Winter
| of 1892 -'33, and an attachment had immedi-
ately sprung up between them. Mr.. Hub,
bard's feeling toward the then young and
rising lawyer was imbued with the en-
thusiasm which Lincoln inspired in all
who knew him. "His character was nearly
faultless," writes Mr.. Hubbard Possess
ing a warm, generous heart, genial, affable,
honest, courteous to his opponents, per
severing, industrious in research, never
losing sight of the principal point under
discussion, aptly illustrating by his stories,
always brought in to good effect; free from
political trickery or denunciation of the
private character Of his opponents; in
hot {oJ oI, vii
toward all, malice toward none he won
the confidence of the public, even Of his
political opponents. l called on
him in Washington the year Of his in
auguration, and was alone with him for an
hour or more. found him greatly changed,
his countenance bearing an expression of
great mental anxiety. The whole topic Of
our conversation was the war, which affected
him deeply. Examining the map hang
ing on the wall, pointing out the points
most strong in the rebel district, he said:
Douglas and myself have studied this
map very closely. / am indebted to him
for wise counsel. l have no better adviser,
and feel under great obligations to him.
left Washington with feeling that our
Nation had not misplaced its confidence
in choosing him as its President. Two
years after, 1 again visited Washington,
and went to the White House to pay my
respects. In the ante-room / found my
friend Thomas L. Forrest. About 6 O'Clock
the band from the Navy Yard appeared
and began to play, when Mr.. Forrest said:
This is Saturday, when the grounds are
open to the public; the President will pre-
sent himself on the balcony below; let US
join the crowd So we adjourned and
filed in with the crowd. The President,
with AdJtGen. Thomas, was seated on the
balcony. The crowd was great, march
ing compactiy past the President, the men
raising their hats in salutation. AS my
friend and myself passed he said to me:
The President seems to notice you-turn
toward him. No. said, L don't care to
be recognized AT that instant Mr. Lin
coin started from his seat, advancing
quickly to the iron railing, and leaning
over, beckoning with his long arm, called:
Hubbard! Hubbard! come herer 1
left the ranks and ascended the stone steps
to the gate of the balcony, which was
locked, Gen. Thomas saying: Wait
will get the key Never mind,
General said Mr.. Lincoln, Hubbard is
used to jumping-he can scale that fence
/ climbed over, and for about an hour we
conversed and watched the large crowd,
the rebel flag being in sight on Arlington
Hights. This was the last time l ever saw
his face in life"
VIEWS OF HIS OWN POSITIoN-THE
ATTORNEY FOR THE PEOPLE,"
1t was noted by those about Mr.. Lincoln
during his residence at the White House.
that he usually avoided speaking of him
self as President, or making any reference
to the office which he held. He used some
such roundabout phrase as since l came
into this place" instead Of saying, since l
became President" The war he usually
spoke Of as this great trouble" and he
almost never alluded to the enemy as
"COnfederates" or "the Confederate Gov
but he used the word rebel" in
his talk and in his letters. He also had an
reluctance to appear to
lead public opinion, and often spoke of
himself as the attorney for the people"
Once, however, when a Senator was urging
on him certain course, which the PreSi-
dent was not disposed to pursue, the Sena-
tor said: You say you are the peoples
attorney. Now, you will admit that this
course would be most popular" "But am
not going 10 let my client manage the case
against my Judgment" Lincoln replied
quickly. AS long as | am attorney for the
people / shall manage the case to the best
Of my ability. They will have a chance to
put me out, by and by, if my management
Is not satisfactory"
ONLY THE LEAD-HORSE, AND MUST
NOT KICK OUT OF THE TRACES"
Some characteristic utterances of Mr..
Lincoln, defining his views of his position.
were made to his friend Admiral Dahlgren.
at the period pending the issue Of the eman-
cipation proclamation. Says Admiral
Dahlgren: "The President had every
disposition to do the thing, but it was eyT-
dent that others overrilled. AS he said.
he was only the lead-horse in the team.
and must not kick over the traces He
that he knew his proclamation
would not make single negro free beyond
our military reach"
HIS DESIRE THAT THE PEOPLE"
SHOULD UNDERSTAND HIM.
In all Mr.. Lincolns writings. even his |
most important state papers, his chief |
ieSire was to make himself clearly nm
ierstood by the common reader He had |
4 great aversion to what he called "machine |
writing" and used the fewest words possi-
ole TO express his meaning. He never
nesitated to employ homely expression,
when 1t suited his purpose. In his first
message the phrase "sugar-coated" oc-
cured; and when it was printed, Mr.. De-
Irees, the Public Printer, being on familiar
.erms with Mr.. Lincoln, ventured an OBJ
!ection to the phrase, suggesting that Mr..
Ldncoln was not now preparing a campaign