Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1904-02-11

| traits OF character of those with whom
ne had to deal. He pointed out a
marked trait in Gov. Andrew G. Cur
tin, OF Pennsylvania, who was earnest,
| able and untiring in keeping I'D the
war spirit OF his state, but was at
times ovcrbearing and exacting in his
intercourse with the general govern
ment
Upon one occasion he complained
and protested more bitterly than usual
and warned those in authority that
the execution of the War Department
orders in this state would be beset
with difficulties and dangers.
The tone Of the dispatches gave
rise to an apprehension that he might
not cooperate fully in the enterprise
at hand. The Secretary Of War, in
anger, laid the dispatches before the
President for advisory instructions.
They did not disturb Mr. Lincoln in
the least. In fact. they rather amused
him. After reading all the papers
he said, in cheerful and reaSsuring
tone, Mr. Secretary, mover mind
| these dispatches; they don't mean
anything; just go right ahead. Gov.
Curtin is like boy l once saw at
the launching Of a ship. When every
thing was ready they picked out this
boy and set him on the ship to knock
away the trigger and let her go. At
the critical moment everything de-
pended on that boy. He had to do the
i0h WpI nv Hjroct
and then lie fiat and keep still while
the ship moved over him. The boy
did everything right; but he yelled
as If he were being murdered from
the time he got under the keel until
he got out. l thought the skin was
all scraped off his back, but his hide
was not touched"
THE master Of the yard told me
that this boy was always chosen for
that job; that he did his work well;
that he had never been hurt, but that
he always squealed il that way.
That's just the way" continued Mr..
Lincoln, that Gov. Andy Curtin does.
Make up your mind that he is not
hurt, that he Is doing the work right
and pay no attention to his squealing.
He only wants to mako you under
stand how hard his task is"
Sometimes the President yielded to
Secretary Stanton's judgment Rev.
Charles w. Heisler Methodist min
lister, who still survives, had rather a
soft snap" as chaplain of q hospital
in Philadelphia. His wife was very
Ill. and the Secretary of War had just
ordered him to his post of duty at the
Dry Tortugas, or some place equally
unsatisfactory. Heisler wanted the
order rescinded. He saw Mr.. Lin
coin. explained the whole matter tc
the President, who said: Il think this
preacher ought to lie allowed to re-
main where he is"
lincoln reached to pigeon hole IN
his desk and took out card, on
which he wrote:
Edwin NJ. Stanton, Secretary Of
War: If the exigencies OF the service
will permit, let up on Mr.. Heisler and
leave him where he Is. A. Lincoln"
Rev. Heisler went over TO the War
Office in high spirits. Stanton was in
| one of his uproarious humors. For
the modern Carnot, In spite of his
many virtues and his solid Presbyter-
ianism. could, when angered, swear
like moss trooper. He read Mr..
Lincoln's card and said to the minis
ter, 60 back and tell Mr.. Lincoln |
will be ID if will do what he re-
| quests" After the President had lis
tened patiently to Stanton's message
he said with a twinkle in his eye,
We'll, l never did have much influ.
| ence with this administration"
Rev. Mr.. Heisler resigned next day
as chaplain in the United States sery.
| ice.
The next time the writer saw the
President the first thing he said was ::
Il did something this morning which
has aroused the ire of Secretary Stan.
ton. Congressman Dennison, of Penn.
| sylvania. came to me with the mother