The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-11-11
HOW LINCOLN WON
THE SUPPORT OF
JAMES GORDON BENNETT

JAMES GORDON BENNETT
At this time Abraham Lincoln is
chiefly remembered as the great enan
cipator, president of the United States
at the time of the civil war. and an ora
tor whose Gettysburg and inaugural
addresses will live as long as the Eng
fish language. Not SO we'll is II known
that Lincoln was a master politician,
knowing how 20 handle men, and TO do
that with tact, gentleness and kindness.
The following hitherto unpublished
a%necdote, related to me by one who
was a lifelong friend of Thurlow Weed,
illustrates Lincoln's supreme gift as q
politician In the best meaning OF the
term.
In the darkest days Of the civil war.
when there had been severe n con-
tinued reverses to the union army,
when Il was known to Mr.. Lincoln that
France n England were contemplate
ing interference. or. at least, the rails
ing OF the blockade, and when Secre-
tary Of the Treasury Chase was trying
to establish q satisfactory currency
system, the New York Herald, in an
earnest, not unkindly. but severely
critical way, ~reproached the admins
tration at Washington. At that time
he Herald was regarded In Europe as
the leading American newspaper. and
because Of this fact he position taker
by the founder of the Herald. James
Gordon Bennett, gave Mr.. Lincoln Sc
rious concern. He was anxious to OBJ
tain h support Of. and to put an end
to criticism by. the Herald. He did II
! by n master stroke Of tact. skillful
diplomacy and an intuitive understand
ing of the character Of Mr.. Bennett.
Late nna afternoon Thlrlnw Weed.
the master politician of New York
state. called by appointment upon
James Gordon Bennett at his beautiful
country place, as 1t then was. on the
upper m Of Manhattan Island. Mr..
Bennett was experienced enough to
know that Mr.. Weed a sought him
out because he had some message to
communicate. Yet the editor of the
| Herald had not the slightest idea Of
the nature of that message, excepting
that he suspected 1t might nave some-
thing to do with the approaching New
York state election.
The two great journalists strolled for
an hour or so through the beautiful
! grounds and natural park that was
q part Of Mr.. Benefits country estate.
They talked Of men and events for a
while, and also of the growth OF New
York city, which, Mr.. Bennett said,
would ultimately convert the upper end
OF Mammalian lSlanu, then d IoTeSI, luIo
a residence district
At last Mr.. Weed said-and I am re-
peating the words as they were old
to me by Mr.. Weeds friend:
"Mr. Bennett, l have recently seen
President Lincoln. He is greatly dis
turbed about the situation In France.
You know. Of course, that Louis Napo-
leoa was just prevented, and by for
tunate accident, from recognizing the
Southern Confederacy, or. at least,
from declaring hat France would at
tempt tc lift our blockade?"
YES" replied Mr.. Bennett, II know
about that. I know the part you had
in 1t, and what signal service you were
able to give to the United States at
that time. Tell me more o It,"
Thercupon Mr.. Weed narrated to Mr..
Bennett the extraordinary circum-
stances which made 1t possible for him
to prevent Louis Napoleon from de-
claring II to be Frances purpose to
raise the union blockade Of the con-
federate ports. Mr.. Bennett was deeply
interested in this secret history. Con-
Guiding his narrative, MI. Weed con-
tinued:
Now, Mr.. Bennett, the situation re-
mains critical in France. President
Lincoln is Very anxious that we shall
be represented at Paris by a minister
who understands the French people
one for whom Louis Napoleon has cor
dial feeling-and at the same time by
a man who Is a conspicuous n inf1u-
entail American citizen. President Lin
coin has asked me to put myself into
communication with you to say to you
that IL you will accept the post of
minister to France he will gladly nomi-
nate you for a office, feeling that
your service there would be Of the
highest value to the United States"
Equally delighted and surprised at
the unexpected turn Of affairs, Mr.. Ben
nett expressed his high appreciation of
the distinguished hon that Mr.. Lin
coin proposed to confer on him, adding
that for him 1t vas a greater honor
to have been thought Of by the presl-
lent in this connection than any he
could obtain by actually filling the
French mission. But 1t seemed to him
that he and the Herald would be of
| greater service to the union were he
to remain in this country In immediate
touch each day with his newspaper.
He therefore was sdre that he ought
to instruct Mr.. Weed to say to the
president that, while he highly appre-
ciated the honor, yet he believed his
post Of duty was at home.
Mr.. Weed saw at ice that, by this.
| proposition, which was made in entire
sincerity by President Lincoln-since
he did believe that James Gordon Ben
nett would have been invaluable as
minister to France-the public had
gained not only the public but per-
sonal services of Mr.. Bennett. And in
! that view he was confirmed, for after
this interview President LncolnN and
his administration had no more cordial
or valuable supporter h a James Cor
don Bennett.
Copyright, 1909, by e. J. Edwards.)