Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-05-15
"THE REAL LINCOLN"

with the above title, has recently al.
peared from the pen of DR.. Chas. L. G.
Minor, of Baltimore, which is 30 entire
ly at variance with the common esti
mate Of it's subject, that, ifils conclu-
sions are true, it should herald revo-
luton 10 the popular estimate of Mr..
| Lincoln.
The writer of this notice belongs to
generation whose fathers fougi {
against the principles represented byMr.
Lincoln, and yet he has got an idea of
the "great emancipation" that, at least
! has allowed him to look with respect
on those who regard the WAR Presi-
dent" as man typical of strenuous
America. While the writer has had no
patience with the hysiericsl hero.wor-
| shippers who have deifisd this man, yet
be has been fought to regard him as
noble exponent of the union lying
ideas OF a great body of the American
caDs, and OF many young southerners
who think their fathers were right, but
that the past is now passed and that
qsing part Of the United States, 1t Is
the duty of every section to forget it
right conception of duly, in so far as
1t applies to our living together in har-
moDy in the present, and to cur future
dutv to our common country.
When religious paper holds up q
man as q model for young men of to-
day it is eminently proper that such
paper should select man fit to hold
such a position. But when such pa
per is 30 impregnated with ignorance
OF historical facts it must be due to
some concealment or perversion OF
facts m the part of those who know.
And SO we must regard as something
Of revolutioEist man who will un-
dertake to prove that the worlds esti-
mate i5 wrong. Aud such man is
D.. Minor, who, in no way touching
90 Mr.. Lncoln's ability or statesman.
ship, presents the man as contem-
poraries knew him and as history and
America do not know bin.
DIR. Minor disclaims in bis preface
any purpose to foster ill-will. nor Ia
there anything in his Tine Real LIN
coin" that should do SO. Every state
ment is made on the authority OF Mr..
Lite oln's biographers and eulogists,
the reference is given with number OF
page, so that anyone disposed to 90 80
can with ease find in any good library
ample veri6cstion for what DR.. Minor
says. OF these biogrsphers who furn-
ish the material tor DIR. Minors esti-
mate of Mr.. Lipcoln mere mention
should bs sufficient to convince, for OF
them are Lsmon and Herndon, intimate
associates of the President throughout
bis life; his cabinet ministers, Seward
Chase and Stanton, besides Richard
Dana, Edward Everett and many
otners.
DR.. Minors booklet is divided into
heads, a reference 10 few of which
will serve the purpose of this notice.
Remember that ali the questions are
answered by Lincoln's own biographers
and eulogis s-"Was Lincoln HerocP"
"Was Lincoln Christian ?" "Lincoln's
Jokes and Stories" Estimates Of
l. ncoln" by his associates. Method
oy which 'Disloyalty' was Suppressed"
in north and west.
From answers 10 tnese and otner
questions DR.. Minors conclusions are
neces ,ry. He certainly was not man
ior Cnristian paper to hold before
soung men to be be initiated. There IL
added to The booklet q complete list o.
authorities consulted, with blograph.'
cal note on each, answering before II
can be asked the question of prejudice
But these men furnish the proof o
every statement made.
Prof, Lyon q. Tyler, OF William an'
Mary, has q brief essay occupying
the last six pages Of the book, deal
ing with Mr.. Lincolo's public acts
which calls attention forcibly to th
real man as contrasted with the Lincoll
OF fiction, or U. s. history.
E ii'ed by Kate Mason Rowland ant
ublshed by the Everett Waddey Co
Richmond, Va, We have here q mos
valuable contribution to history, whicl
should have place on every reader
table, al d which will, when 1t is read
open many thousands of eyes through
out the world.