Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-02-09
new news OF YESTERDAY
How Lincoln Won James Gordon
Benefits Support.
By E. j. EDWARDS.

Inc following nICnorJO unpuDuSneQ
anecdote, related to me by one who
was a lifelong friend of Thurlow
Weed, illustrates Lincoln's supreme
gift as a politician in the best mean
ing of the term.
In the darkest days of the civil war,
when there had been severe and con-
.tinued reverses to the union army,
when it was known to Mr.. Lincoln
that France and England were con-
templating interference, or, at least,
the raising of the blockade, and when
Secretary of the Treasury Chase was
trying to establish a satisfactory cur
rency system, the New York Herald,
in an earnest, not unkindly, but Sc
verely critical way, reproached the adj
ministration at Washington. At that
time the Herald, was regarded in Eu-
rope as the leading American newspa-
per, and because of this fact the posi-
ton taken by the founder of the Her
aid, James Gordon Bennett, gave Mr..
Lincoln serious concern. He was anX-
ious to obtain the support Of, and to
put an end to criticism by, the Herald.
He did it by one master stroke of tact,
skillful diplomacy and an intuitive I'M
derstanding of the character of Mr..
Bennett.
Late one afternoon Thurlow Weed,
the master politician OF New York
state, called by appointment upon
James Gordon Bennett at his beautiful
country place, as it then was, on the
upper end Of Manhattan island.
The two great journalists strolled
for an hour or so through the beautiful
grounds and national park that was
a 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 Manhattan island, then a for
est into a residence district.
At last Mr.. Weed said-and | am re-
peating the words as they were told
to me by Mr.. Weeds friend:
"Mr. Bennett, l have recently seen
President Lincoln. He is greatly dis
turbed about the situation in France.
leon was just prevented, and by fortu-
nate accident, from recognizing the
southern confederacy, or, at least, from
declaring that France would attempt
to lift our blockade?"
"Yes," replied Mr.. Bennett, Il know
about that. know the part you had
in it, and what signal service you were
able to give to the United States at
that time. Tell me more about it.
Thereupon Mr. Weed narrated to
Mr.. Bennett the extraordinary circum-
stances which made it possible for
him to prevent Louis Napoleon from
declaring it to be Frances purpose to
federate ports. Mr.. Bennett was deep
ly interested in this secret history.
Concluding his narrative, Mr.. Weed
continued:
Nov, Mr.. Bennett, the situation re-
mains critical in France. President
Lincoln is very anxious that we shall
be represented at Paris by minister
who understands the French people
one for whom Louis Napoleon has cor
dial feeling-and at the same time by
man who is a conspicuous and influ-
entail American citizen President
Lincoln has asked me to put myself
into communication with you to say to
you that if you will accept the post or
minister to France he will gladly nom
mate you for that 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..
Bennett expressed his high apprecia-
ton Of the distinguished honor that
Mr. Lincoln proposed to confer on
him, adding that for him it was a
greater honor to have been thought of
by the president in this connection
than any he could obtain by actually
filing the French mission. But it
seemed to him that he and the Herald
would be of greater service to the
union were he to remain in this coun-
try in immediate touch each day with
his newspaper. He therefore was sure
that he ought to instruct Mr.. Weed to
say to the president that, while he
highly appreciated the honor, yet he
believed his post of duty was at home.
After this interview President Lin
coin and his administration had no
more cordial or valuable supporter
than James Gordon Bennett.
Copyright, 1909, by E. ]. Edwards)