The National tribune., 1907-02-28

his property or life. After Mr. Lincoln's|
election the threats increased enor-
nously in number and proportionately
In vicious determination. 1t seemed
only too likely that many infismmable
men of defective reasoning were con-
ttnced that Mr.. Lincoln's accession TO
the Presidency meant ruin to the peace
Of the country. which would justify his
being taken off. Therefore men watched
his progress from Springfield to Wash.
tngton with anxious eyes and beating
hearts. The passage thru Baltimore
was specially dreaded. because at that
time Baltimore had gained q bad no
Soriety on account Of her many mobs,
and the virulence Of the faction fights
tstween her gangs Of hoodlums. Sc
csssion was as openly preached In Bal
timore as in Charleston, and with more
heat and rancor than in any other
Southern city except Charleston. The
shipping. commercial and manufactur-
ing interests of that city felt that their
whole prosperity depended upon their
Southern trade, and that by showing
ardor in the cause of the South they
could rid themselves of the hard COM
petition of Philadelphia, New York and
Boston. As was the case everywhere
in the South. the mob element there
was completely controlled by the aris-
tocracy, and its rabid exhibitions were
ed, q majority Of the leading men In
the city's affairs. From all that Gen.
Scott. Col. Stone and the Republican
leaders could learn, there was proba-
bility amounting almost TO a certainty,
that Mr.. Lincoln's passage thru the city
would be the occasion for an outbreak
By the mob, during which Mr. Lincoln
Would undoubtedly be shot At that
time the railroad did not run directly
thru Baltimore. Those lines entering
from the North had their depots Oh that
side OF the city, while the Baltimore 6
Ohio led out from the southwest side
to Washington and the West. the trans
fer between the two being made by
carriage. omnibus or horse car. Per
konally. Mr.. Lincoln was singularly de-
foid Of fear, and braved every danger
with an air of Inconsistencies Of Its
deadly character. He yielded TO the
urgent appeals Of his friends, however
90 far as consenting to pass thru the
city q day before he was announced ia
DO so. somewhat disguised. and reached
Washington on the morning OF tep. rs
II about the hour he was expected tc
leave Harrisburg.
While this plan met the approval o.
q large portion of his friends there wa:
still another. and possibly greater por
tion who resented It sorely. 1t did no
seem right or proper that the mar
WnOm IHey ndu GHoHch ioE
should be obliged to go thru any cit!
fvrtively and disguised, and they wouit
much have preferred, X necessary, tina
100000 men should have seen him safe
" thru the Baltimore mob. LOOKING
at the matter from this distance, II !
likely that Lincoln's course was. efte
all, the highest wisdom. The terribl
war which was about to open was
struggle in which mems conscience
and feelings largely dictated the side
they were to take, and II Mr.. Lincoln
had attempted to &c thru Balttmor
openly, there might have been col
1ision in which the assailants would no
have appeared 40 entirely wrong an
indefensibls as they did IN their crown
Ing criminality IN firing upon For
Sumter.
Presentations to Guard the Inauguration
In previous chapters have been mar
rated the efficient steps taken by Ger
Scott, and his trusted subordinate. Co
Chas. P. Stone, to protect Washington
against seizure by mob or by frreS
ular organizations from Virginia an
Maryland. The forces SO organize
were now to be employed to secure
peaceful Inauguration of the Presden
2Isot, And TO Dsotect his person. T