The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-15
THE CONSOLATION OF HISTORY.


The reader of the inner histories of
periods of the past is sure to find a great
deal of consolation, particularly If he has
become the victim of the present pessimism
of few writer's and speakers who exalt
their own Righteousness in contrast to the
lead to the conclusion that in past periods
which were great crises men lin public life
were as narrow, as dogmatic and jealous
as at the present time. There were bosses
then who were as tyrannical and unscrupu-
lous as those of the present If the judgment
of their contemporaries is taken. 1t would
be thought that during the war of the re-
bellion all men on either side who were
prominent would have been above petty
spites and jealouses. but any scrap of in
ner history shows that such was not the
case. Mr.. Lincoln's first Cabinet was not
harmonious, not SO much because there
were differences of opinion on leading ques-
tons as that men were jealous of each
other. Mr.. Seward was distrusted by the
Chase faction, while the Sumner school of
radicals wasted a great deal of vital en-
ergy in watching and counteracting the
alleged intrigues of the great secretary of
state. Horace Greeley did not forget his
grudge against Seward and Thurlow Weed,
to make him postmaster of New York un-
der the last Wing administration.
Reading an article written more than
thirty years ago by Thuriow Weed has sug-
gested the foregoing observations. Weed
was the most adroit man in larger politics
the country has ever known He never
held an Office and he had not the advan-
tage of wealth, but for years he managed
the Albany Evening Journal really the
official organ of the Wing party. He was
party manager from no selfish motive. but
from love of the power which it gave him.
He attended to the big things of the Wing
party and subsequently of the Republican
party in New York. He left the little
things to smaller men. Mr.. Weed had tried
to nominate Mr.. Seward for President and
failed. but he gave Mr.. Lincoln loyal sup
port. But when Lincoln became President.
Weed was treated by the anti-Seward fac
ton about Washington as "a very bad
man." He held no Office nor did he want
an Office, but his foes did not like to see
him in Mr.. Lincoln's vicinity.
At very critical period of the war Arch.
bishop Hughes, of New York. was induced
to become the special representative OF the
United States to Europe. and particularly
to those countries having large Cathofc
populations One of the conditions OF
Archbishop Hughes's acceptance was that
Mr. Weed should go with him. AT first il
was announced that Mr.. Weed would be
the arehbishop's associate. 1t was a posi-
ton which could not give Mr.. Weed any
political prominence. and for which no man
could have been better qualified. since he
was a rare diplomat; but the announcement
that Weed would accompany the arch.
bishop in an Official position caused much
opposition. 1t was assumed that Weed was
bent on some mission that would put the
interests of the country in peril So great
at the last hour hesitated to commission
him. The archbishop insisted that Mr.
Weed must go. If not as his fellow-am
bassador az his unofficial associate. Such
an arrangement had been made, Mr.. Weet
being anxious to 60 in any capacity thai
the mission might be successful. Hi.
friends. however, saw SECRETARY sewart
and induced him to commission Mr. Weed
| That he did not do so at first may seen
puzzlins. but the reason of Mr.. sewart
was adequate. namely, he did not wish 4