The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-12

2 aAA&=A that because ne
HE STUDIED WAR applied his whole
NIGHT AND DAY. intellect to the
problem and worked at it night and
day In learning military tactics he
read every book on the subject that
was available. Military men from Eu-
rope were surprised by the familiarity
which he showed with technical terms
and with the military history of their
own lands.
Democracy presents strange and new
spectacles to the world. Here was a
country lawyer without knowledge or
experience of war placed suddenly in
command of the armies and navies of
q populous nation in the mightieSt
struggle in history Not only so. but
the diplomacy and multitudinous gov
ernmental affairs were in his hands,
and that at a time when one false
move would have precipitated crisis
with other nations. But the most mar
velous part of the unusual spectacle
was to come. The older nations beheld
this country lawyer without expert
ence in statecraft, diplomacy or war
develop a wise, cautious and mastery
policy in internal affairs, foreign pol
icy that steered the nation through two
most delicate entanglementS and saw
him at last gain grasp of military
science which enabled him to bring
order out of chaos and to choose gen
erals that were equal to their mighty
task.
As soon as Mr.. Lincoln had made a
study of all the available books on
war he took a more active part in the
AZ
mistake was in retaining Mcclellan
after that officer, admittedly fine en-
gineer and organizer, but poor fighter,
had shown his incapacity or unwill-
ingness to accomplish results. Not un-
til Lincoln saw that Mcclellan was
bidding for the presidency did he final
ly make up his mind to effect change.
Neglect, delay, complaints and almost
insults he had borne with exemplary
patience. Only when It was plain that
the general of his chief army was more
intent on advancing his political for
tunes than he was on ending the war
did the president act. Later all his
moves in connection with the Army of
the Potomac showed that he was hunt
ing for a general Matters began to
mend, but Lincoln had not yet found
the man. Two commanders were tried
only to be discarded. Meade-or was it
fate?-won the battle of Gettysburg,
but the president was bitterly disap-
pointed that the victory was not vigor
ously followed up and Lees army de-
stroyed before it could escape into Vir-
ginia. He felt that one bold stroke here
would have practically ended the war,
and in this most military authorities
agree with him.
Then Mr.. Lincoln found his captain.
Placing Grant at the head Of all the
armies, he left him practically unham-
pered to complete the war. He exhib-
ited his own generalship not only in
/ his choice Of the man, but In turning
over to him all details
Mr.. Lincoln displayed his general
ship in many ways. He exhibited it
before the war in his manner of con-
Quoting his political battles While op-
posed to slavery, he was too wise to
demand all he had in view. His fight
was to stop the spread Of slavery into
the territories. He thus attacked the
foe at his weakest point When the
victory was gained on this minor de-
tail it was gained all along the line
again MT. Lincoln showed his gen.
eralship in his insistence that the war
was to save the Union and not to save
or destroy slavery. By this means he
kept the border states In the Union
and gained the support of the war
Democrats.
| His firmness in regard to Fort Sum-
ter was a third evidence of his tactical
ability. Any weakening at that point
would have been fatal. Lincoln here
showed himself superior to Seward and
all the other vacillating temporizers
His unwavering attitude at this crit
zeal time heartened the nation.
! His notifications of Stewards I'M
wise instructions to our minister to
England, his treatment of the Mason
and Slidell affair, his tolerant and hu-
morous attitude toward Vallandigham
and other northern opponents of the
war, and, greatest of all. his issuance
of the emancipation proclamation as
war measure. all these and other like
acts showed that Abraham Lincoln
was political and military general of
the drst rank.