The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-05

aSsANSAa ~ ShAaSN-a ~
The military cloak and white kid gloves ~
q Berkshire review no carried all oficial
functions Of tho Executive Into the gratihca-
ton Of tho moment. HI, wife-exoellent
partner OF his constant toil-with true femi-
nine instinct wont even furthertn appreciate
ing ofloial elevation Light IL thrown upon
these minor details when We recall tbs
social views prevailing In Ma~sseohusett
before and during tho civil war. Adolf
tionists were beyond the pale. Charles Sum-
nor, TO whom 90 much attention had been
paid In London, was tabooed In the higher
circles Of society In Boston. Our author
mentions That early In his official career
Gov. Andrew with his wife was invited out
by some people Of fashion with tho explana-
ton, for you know you are about the only
people who are willing to meet Mr.. Sumner. "
Henry Lee, who va appointed on the Gov
ernor's staff early In january, 1851, has re-
corded: III I, q radical, regarded Gov. An
drew with distrust, what was the horror and
indignation excited In the hearts OF con-
servatives at his accession to ofioeY' We
should not omit to note that 10 the exeou-
tive ability exhibited by Andrew under the
pressure Of tremendous responsibilities our
author willingly renders testimony. He
points out that those nearest the Massachu-
sets Governor in his trying experience
esteemed him highly. Gen. Sohouler's
tribute, for example. Is reproduced: The
greatest, the wisest and noblest OF Massa-
ohusetts Governors, he possessed transcen-
dent genius as an executive oficer, whom
those qualities could best be exercised
There lie reason to think that Andrew Gregg
Curtin, the War Governor Of Pennsylvania,
had q more difficult part to play than either
Morton or Andrew. The State had always
claimed to be the keystone Of the Union,
but It's people, greatly intermingled as they
were In stocks OF English, German, Swedish,
Dutch and Irish blood. were slow OF action.
Moreover, by their location on tho border
between the free and the slave States. and
by the antebellum Affiliations OF their trade,
they had been inclined to sympathize with
the South In the middle Of the century.
Not until the political campaigns OF 1890
was the community stirred to It's depths
and made alive 10 the crisis. The man
Curtin was fitted to the occasion which
made him Governor. Born In the State
and, according to his intimate associate,
Col. A. X. Mcclure, Of excellent Irish lin
cage, he had-so Mr.. Egle, his biographer,
testihes--every quality for aggressive
leadership. or imposing person. impress
sive manner, capable Of f~orceful logic min
gled with the keenest wit and sarcasm and
unsurpassed in eloquence, he was just the
man to lead In q great revolution An
old Wing, he could bring into line Free
Sellers and Know Nothings. Though q
lawyer, he knew how to touch farmers and
iron men, as we'll as the merchants and manu-
~facturers Of Philadelphia. In his W IN
augural address, delivered two months
before Lincoln's Inauguration. he sounded
the clear note: THE people mean to pre-
serve the integrity Of the national Union
at every hazard Our author oonceives
that possibly the position Of his native State
on the border inspired Curtin to a keener
sense Of responsibility and impelled him
to forcible independent action; 1t was nc
secret that no sympathy existed between
the War Governor OF Pennsylvania and
Simon Cameron, his fellow citizen, who
was at the head Of the Wal Department.
According to Col. Mcclure the Secretary
and the Governor were not friends because
old political wounds were yet fresh and
excited the bitterest hostility There is
no doubt that every possible faculty Of an
Executive was needed in the Pennsylvania
Of those days. The community was rich.
but the State credit had been shattered by
the onset Of war. To delicate problems OF
finance Gov. Curtin addressed himself witt
excellent sense. The necessity Of watch
Ing great expanding and disbursing Officers
is revealed in the appointment Of q COM
mittee to supervise supplies and investigate
frauds. Excessive vigilance was evinced
by Curtin in caring for the soldiers in the
field, and one Of his especial delegates made
himself felt throughout the hospitals. Or
the whole, when his situation Is considered
Curtin, considered as a War Governor. Is
here looked Upon ss fully the peer Of Morton
or Of Andrew.
w.
There Is no doubt that the Governors OF
the great Commonwealths Of Massachu'
sets, Pennsylvania and Indiana were in &
very definite sense eve greater Executives
than the national President in the first two
years Of the civil war, or until after thu