The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-02
STRIKING INCIDENT OF
lINCOLN'S SELF CONTROL

The keynote OF the presidents young
lie had been preserving industry That
or his mature years was self-control and
generous forgiveness. And surely his re-
mark on the night OF his second election
for president. that ne did not think re-
sentiment paid and that no man had
time 10 spend half his life in quarrels,
was well borne out by the fruit II his ac-
tion. IL was this spirit alone which made
possible much that he was able TO accom-
plish.
His rule OF conduct toward all men is
summed up, writes Helen Nicolay in ST.
Nicholas, in letter OF reprimand that Il
became his duty while he was president
TO send 10 one young officer accused OF
quarrelling with another. II deserves 10
be written in letters OF gold on the walls
Of every school and college throughout
the land:
THE advice of father to his son. Be
ware or an entrance TO a quarrel, but,
being In, bear IL that the opposed may be-
ware OF thee is good, but not the best.
quarrel not at all. No man resolved TO
make the most OF himself can spare time
Tor personal contention. Still less can he
AFFORD to take all the consequence, in
Guiding the vitiating OF his temper and
the loss of self-control. Yield larger
things 10 which you can show more than
equal right, and yield lesser ones though
clearly your own. Better to give your
path to a dog than be bitten by him In
contesting for the right Even killing the
dog would not cure the bite"
1t was this willingness of his to give up
the lesser things" and even tn things
to which he could claim an equal right
which kept peace In his cabinet made up
of men Of strong wills and conflicting ma
lures. Their. devotion to the Union, great
as II was, would not have sufficed in such
a strangely assorted official family, but
his unfailing Kindness and good sense
led him TO overlook many things that an
other man might have regarded as delib
crate insult, while his great tact and
knowledge OF human nature enabled him
to bring out the best In people about him
and at times 10 turn their very weakness
into. sources of strength.
It made it possible for him to keep the
regard OF every one OF them Before he
had been in office "A month he had trans
formed Secretary Seward from his rival
into his lasting friend. IL made a warm
friend out OF the blunt. positive. hot-tem
pered Edwin NJ. stanton, who became
secretary of war I'm place of Mr.. Cameron
He was man OF strong Will and great
endurance. and gave his department. a
record for hard and effective work that
IL would be difficult TO equal Many stor-
les are told OF the disrespect he showed
the president and the cross purposes at
which they labored The truth is that
they understood each other perfectly on
all important matters, and worked to-
gether through three busy, trying years
with ever increasing affection and re-
gard.
The presidents kindly humor forgave
his secretary many blunt speeches. Stan
ton says I am a fool?" he is reported to
have asked busybody who came fleet
footed to tell him of the secretary's
hasty comment on an order of little mo-
ment. stanton says / am a fool2'
"Welr'-with a whimsical glance at his
informant-"then / suppose must be.
stanton is nearly always right" Know
right il made little difference to his
chief what he might say I'm the heat OF
momentary annoyance. New York Sun.