The Washington herald., 1912-02-12
AN AEECDOTE OF LINCOLN.
HOW He Restored n Deserter to the
Army ON n Mothers Plea.
Editor Ths U.,bt,,.o, IL

no" he Restored n Deserter to the
Army ON a Mothers Plea.
Editor The Washington Herald:
Abraham Lincoln is one of the charac-
ters In American history whose lust fame
VIII constantly increase as the years roll
oy. Born in poverty-s manger. reared
amid the tolls and vicissltudes of adyer-
sity, educated In the worlds great ,rni-
versity-the rough experiences Of pioneer
hie-h0erslized by constant contact with
the humble and the exalted OF IIfe,s cit,-
zenship. and elevated py self-merit and
sen-assertion to the topmost round on
the ladder OF fame, he stepped into the
sizes 10 become. in the list OF the re-
puoIics honored Presidents, the sancti-
ned and colossal impersonation OF the
common sense Of the American nation.
MY purpose will not permit me TO give
detailed analysis OF his respIendept
character. shall content myself with
specifying a few characteristics as intro
ductory to the incident am about to re-
late.
!. He was accesslble.-As the head Of a
great nation he exhibited. in a remark
able degree, the true idea of republican
democracy. viz, approachableness by
the common people. He could be reached
by the humblest child of humanity, thus
illustrating the grand fact that genuine
greatness will not be contaminated with,
nor sacriheed by, contact with the sons
OF toll.
cred and not 10 be easily or ruthiessly
broken.
3. He was conscientious OF coun-
try' the whole country, was a consuming
passion. II prompted him 70 close his
frst inaugural address with this touching
appeal TO his people dissatisfied with
the condition Of affairs: II am Ioath 10
close. We are not enemies. but friends.
We must not be enemies. Though pas
sion may have strained, it must not
break over bonds Of affection. The mys-
tic chords OF memory, stretching from
every battlefield and patriot grave to
every living heart ana hearthstone ali
over this broad land, Will yet swell
the chorus Of the Union when again
touched. as surely they will be. by the
better angels of our nature"
!. He was magnanimous.-The extract
from his first inaugural may be taken
as evidence Of what his whole life indi-
Gated. He had in his nature none or
the 'unforgiving hate of cruel Juno"
He could and did treat with considera-
ton those who differed from him in the
ories Of administration. He retained none
Of the piques and Jealousles and pro-
scrlptive spirit often exhibited by small,
narrow-minded, self-opinionated ponti-
clans. An Illustration will suffice.
The late Robert Johnston, the colonel
Of Union regiment. but subsequently
prominent attorney in the CITY or
brooklyn. related to the writer this incl
dent: Rebecca Peacock. an Irish won-
an, had n son William who served for a
time In the Army Of the Potomac. For
some strange reason William deserted his
colors, and to avoid punishment fied to
the Dominion Of Canada His mother
felt keenly the disgrace of desertion. not
only for his sake. but because of the
terrible stigma left upon the family
name. She came. under these circum-
stances, TO Johnston, the attorney. and
requested As Intervention in behalf OF
her recreant son.
Johnston informed her that he wa. DOW
erless TO get her son back into the serv-
ice. lie bethought himself and finally
said: Go to see Mr.. Beecher; perhaps
he can do something for you"
This advice. given with little hope that
II would meet with any good results, was
received as affording a new ray OF hone
Presently the woman was at the Beecher
mansion, but was refused admission to |
the eloquent preacher and patriot Fore
ing herself into the hall and persisting
in her demands, she attracted such at |
interview. She stated her case clearly |
and with genuine maternal eIoouence |
The kind-hearted man proffered her xaO
as aid in time OF distress. She declined
the offer, saying: It didn't come for
Your money. l want TO have my hoy
permitted to return to the army and re- |
move a great disgrace from our fam
lily name. have been directed TO come
to You, and hope you will heed the pray
a nigfrarfad
widow"
The great-hearted preacher appreciated
the situation and said: Il sympathize
with you, my good lady, and shall go
to Washington within a few days, when
l will present the matter to President
Lincoln. Come back at the end Of
week and see me- I shall do what can
for you"
Beecher made a special trip to WASH
ington and had an interview with the
President. The result Of the conference
was the Issuing OF an executive order
relieving the unfortunate soldier from the
charge OF desertion, and transferring MIN
to another regiment where he would be
subjected to favorable influences. TheI
Irish woman's persistence and the Coop
Grafton OF two magnanImous friends gave
to the army a faithful soldier during the
remainder OF the war, and relieved
patriotic family of a foul blot. True
greatness Is accessible and responsive.
By such acts as these President Lin
coin endeared himself to the American
PEOPLE, and In the language Of Horace
built a monument more enduring than
brass and higher than the regal sites OF
the ancient pyramids, which neither the
corroding rain, nor the north wind, nor
the flight OF time shall be able TO de-
stroy." ]. FRAIsE RICHARD.
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