The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-04-09

who did not take sides openly : ana
heartily with the President ne hAss
however, given q clear enough sketcH
OF the condition of affairs In the CaoA-
net to prove very c~onclusaveiy tna1
Seward was in nowise entitled TO the
credit often given HIM 1or the
strength Of Johnson's administration.
For stanton Welles had q strong
dislike from the time the latter en-
tered the Cabinet. After describing q
series Of events which showed very
clearly the timidity n lack or bal
ance of the Secretary or war. ne says
IL. y. 60. Mr.. Stanton was fond OF
mower and its exercise. 1t was more
precious to him than pecunlary gam
TO dominate over his fellow men. lie
took pleasure in being ungracious ana
rough towards those who were under
his control. and when he thought MS
bearish manner would terr11y or nu-
initiate those who were subject 70
him. To his superiors or to those
who were his equals IN POSITION. ana
who neither needed nor cared Tor ms
| violence. he was cOnplacent, some
| times obseauious. From long assocf-
| alton and close observation, I am con-
| vinced he had but little moral cour-
age nor much self-reliance when in
trouble It never struck me that he
| was mercenary or that he made use
of his position to add to his private
fortune, but he was reckless and re-
gardless Of public expenditure. and
the war were greater by
hundreds of millions than was neces-
sary OIL than they would have been
Il the Department had been in other
hands. He was vigilant. often eff
| ficient, and his friend and patron Mr..
Seward styled him the Garnet Of the
War Stanton the Divine. But this
was mere fulsome adulatiOn from an
old politician. With the Of
a nation in men and money at his
command. and each used without
stint or scruple. he might we'll be ef-
ficient and powerful, and no one bet
ter knew this thar Stanton himself.
He was an adept in intrigue and
knew how to meet and move the lead
ing spirits in Congress, and for that
matter always had a little Congress
OF his own. No one courted the mem
bers with more ~aSsiduOus attention
or. in an adroit way. fattered and
pandered them with more success
Weiles was aware OF his cunning
treachery, his plots against the a
ministration long before the Presi-
dent suspected it, n even before the
crisis came. hated him with all The
strength Of his honest soul.
lis clear insight into human ma
ture is nowhere better displayed thaI
in his estimate Of Grant. When al
the rest of the world was carried
away by his military achievements
Welles was not enthusiastic. and aftel
a short acquaintance with him, saw
him as he was, a stolid. stubborn per
son with small knowledge Of men OF
Of government, and without civil sd
gacity. administrative ability. or gen
eral Intelligence. Other quotation.
concerning him are interesting. III
Is fond Of power. never refuses or de
clines it.. loves wealth, accepts an
encourages gifts. is SLY. shrewd, Gun
ming. secretive. ambitious, and selfisl
with some executive, but little ad
ministrative ability Speaking of nj
policy. he says iii. p. 483o. LAS re
CARDS policy and measures, he ha
. none. He can no more fOreshadoW
. or anticipate, or design a curse Q
political action than he can make
speech to a popular audience, or
s plea Qf abatement. or a sermon o
9 total d~epravity. Yet he has shrewd
ness and a certain Mount Of com
MOI sense with avarice. selfishness
: and ambition. Of the structure of tn
g government, and a proper administra
e tion-of it's affairs. he is singularly an
t wonderfully ignorant.
e For personal rights be has as lii
8 tie regard as for the Constitution
cares nothing for either.
"Horseflesh has more charms 70
him than brains or intellect. He like
q Bonner FOR his asst horses, not fo
y his sharp transactions and bushes
qualifications. The ~race-cOurse h.
more attractions for him than tn
J Senate or the Ouncil room. He love
money. admires wealth. is fond {
power and ready to use it remors
o lessiy. He does not intend to l.
! Dor like a drudge in Office, does n.
n propose to study public affairs. has n
= taste for books or intellectual en-
II ployrnent. If I mistake not he d,
signs to let his Cabinet perform eac
his own work. like department mil
- tary commanders. He will appro,
n or disapprove. listen When Ony