Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-31

I shall never forget he made this state
ment: Next to the day of the fall Of
the Confederacy the south has known no
darker day than the assassination of Lin
coin. He had learned how the south
had misunderstood Lincoln. and he re-
membered that that nisunders anding OF
his character had been an important fac
tor not only in provoking but in prolonE
ing the war.
To my surprise Mr.. Davis spoke very
hopefully of the south. although this vas
only fifteen years after the close OF the
war. and expressed confidence in the ulti
mate restoration OF fellowship and pros
perity. / asked him why he did not re
sumo his citizenship. as he could have
done under the laws, and he answered
with evident frankness that he thought 1t
best for the south that he should not.
He said that the south had, much to hin
disappointment, made him president OF
the Confederacy, when his ambition was
to command the Confederate army. and
having accepted that it was his sworn
duty TO maintain the policy OF the Con-
federacy
Lincoln was ever earnestly In favor OF
efecting peace between the north and
the south upon a basis that would bring
the south back with some sympathy for
the Union. In August OF 1884. when he
was candidate OR reelection. he ex-
hibited to me in the White House in his
own handwriting the proposition to pay
the south 800 600. 600 for the slaves II
they would accept reunion. l said to him
that If such sentiments became known to
the public before the next election he
would be defeated by an overwhelming
majority He said he knew that but
that it was. in his judgment, entirely
right and the best possible solution OF the
war.
I remember distinctly his declaration
that the war was then costing nearly
S4WO.OO0 a day. independent of the loss
of life and the destruction Of property.
and that the war could not be closed by
mi n T1rnyy nOyrfo Id hsa>
days. He believed that that method OF
peace would not only be very greatly
economical to the government. but what
he most desired was that the south
sumo relations with the Union with some
sympathy and interest in their govern.
ment.
What he most feared and deprecated
was that the Confederate armies would
be overwhelmingly scattered and nearly
all of them would have to return to
desolated fields and breadless homes and
he feared anarchy in the south. While
the compensation for the slaves would
give them not only the assurance os
some sympathy of an interest In them. It
would also give them the means to re
vlve their industries, and. as he said, AID
us in paying our great national debt.
That his theory was right will hardly be
disputed by any at this time, but with
the surging sectional passions OF that
day there were few who viewed the sit
uation with the patriotic caimnsss Of
Those who intelligently and dispassion-
ately study the record Of Abraham IAn-
coin must accept the conclusion that hs
was the greatest of all the many great
men of the republic from its foundation
to the present time. While he was re-
garded by most of the people when he
entered the presidency as an unsophisti-
Gated countryman he proved to be the
master Of all the great masters OF his
party, and he always mastered them by
patient adherence to the right. He was not
only greatest in craftsmanship, but he was
a master politician. although a stranger
to the common methods accepted In po-
litical struggles. He was the great
strategst of our war and in all tie deli
cate and embarrassing diplomacy by
which the recognition OF the Confederacy
by European governments had to bs
hindered he was the supreme director.
even OF his premier. He was patient and
forbearing to the last degree. but when
the time for action came he ever asserted
himself and always in masterful man
ner. and the great leaders who under
estimated him at the beginning Of IS
presidential career were compelled to bow
in difference to his always wise
premacy. Such is the record of Abraham
Lincoln. the greatest and nobiest %
American Presidents.
lCopyrishted 1909. lay the Associated LitsrasY
Press.)