The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-30
LINCOLN,S SELF-CONTROL.
His Letter 10 q QuArrelsOme Young OnnceI
Reply TO stsntOn's Blunt speech.

The keynote Of the Presidents young
life had been perseverihR industry. That
Of his mature years was self-Control and
generous forgiveness. And sur ely his re-
mark on the night OF his second election
for President. that he did not think resent
ment paid" and that no man had time
to spend half his life in quarrels. was we'll
borne out by the fruit of his action. IL was
this spirit alone which made possible much
that he was able TO accomplish.
His rule OF conduct toward all men is
summed up. writes Helen Nicolay in ~.
Nicholas, in a letter OF reprimand that it
became his duty while he was Presid ent
70 send to one young officer accused OF quar-
relling with another. II deserves TO be writ
ten in letters OF gold on the walls of every
school and college throughout the land:
The advice OF a father to his sen. Be
ware OF an entrance to a quarrel, but. being
in, bear it that the opposed may beware
OF thee is good. but not the best. Quar-
rel not at all. No man resolved to make
the most Of himself can spare time for per-
sonal contention. Still less can he afford
to take all the consequence. including the
vitiating of his temper and the loss OF self
control. Yield larger thin e TO which you
can show nc more than equal right. and
yield lesser on ~ though clearly your own.
Better 10 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
IL was this willingness Of his to give Up
the lesser things." and even the thin gs 10
| which he could claim an equal right which
kept peace in his Cabinet. made up OF men
Of strong wills and conflicting natures. Their
devotion to the Union. great a. IL was, would
not ave suf1ced in such a stran gely as
sorted Official family. but his unfailing kind
ness and good sense led him to over look
many thin "a that another mar might have
regarded a. deliberate insults. while his
great tact and knowledge OF human nature
enabled him to bring out the best in people
about him and at times to turn their very
weakness into sources OF siren 9Th.
IL made IL possible for him TO keep the
regard OF every one OF them. Before he
had been In ONCE a month 10 had transformed
Secretary Seward from his rival into his last
ing friend. Il made q warm friend out OF
the blunt, positive. hot tempered I'd win NJ,
stanton, who became Secretary of War in
place OF Mr.. Cameron. He was a man Oi
strong will and great endurance. and gave
his department n record for hard and effective
work that IL would he dirioult to equal
Many stories are told Of the disrespect he
show wed the President and the cross purposes
at which they labored. The truth Is that they
understood zach other perfectly on all i'm
pOTtant matters and worked together
through three busy. crying years with ever
The PRESIDENT Findiy hnmor torRsve hs
Secretary many. blunt speeches, stanton
says an : IooIh ne - r'p2rt:d 70 have ssssh
him Of The Secretary's hasty common or
an order @ little moment. Stanton spys
At his Informant Then I supD"ss ] must Re
that Stanton vas -nearly. aIways. right, q
$ MAI, say. say IN Si 4. Sss; e a nss ssa:s "s ssao ;:
ance.