New-York tribune., 1912-02-17

LINCOLN AN u JOi1NDO@Ns 80
introduction by John r. Morse, jr.' ana
Illustrations vols. Svo, PIP. I'LL; az, ~
xvi. s5s; xv, 61. The Houghton Mlinln
Company.
This diary attracted so much attention
suring the serial publication of parts Oh
Il in "The Atlantic Monthly that It's
immediate and deserved success in book
form became a foregone conclusion. II
IS. indeed, an important contribution TO
American history. not in the matter OF
revelations concerning events, for in this
regard it tells us practically nothing
that is new, but in the view 1t gives us
Of conditions and difficulties and discord
behind the scenes. and, most of all, In
the character sketches IT contains or the
men who shaped the course Of events
and made history. IT reveals the weak
nesses as well as the strength of the
machinery that, grinding and clashing,
led to ultimate success, with the strong
hand and wise head Of Abraham Lincoln
at the lever.
A comparison between Welles's diary
and those Of John Quincy Adams and
James Knox Polk is practically unavoid-
able. Mr.. Morse suggests it, in the case
OF Adams, at least, in his introduction.
Certain it is that this diary, kept from
day 10 day with no certain intention of
its ultimate publication, which Welles
left to the discretion of his son, is, like
Adams's and Folks journals, an inter-
esting self-revelation, mostly uncOn-
scious. as we'll as what the editor calls
II, the best Cabinet Interior that hangs
upon the walls of the American room in
the worlds gallery Of history
Gideon Welles, the descendant of a
Pilgrim family, was born in Glastonbury
Conn. on July /, 1902. Destined for the
bar, he read law for a while, without
taking his degree, but to good purpose
rs was seen later, when questions OF
reconstruction under Andrew Johnson
proved him to be a sound constitutional
3urist. Taking charge OF "The Hartford
Times" ia 1926. he supported Andrew
jackson, and during the next eight years
made himself prominent in the Demo-
cratic councils of his state. Under Van
Buren he served as postmaster Of Hart
ford, was elected Controller of his state
in 1912 and 1S43, and in 1S46 was ap-
pointed by President Polk TO be chief OF
The Bureau Of Provisions and Clothing
2or the Navy, holding this position till
the middle of ls4s. The growing prom
tnence and importance of the slavery
question led him to secede from his
party and to Join the Republicans, on
whose ticket he ran for the Governor
ship in 1856. meeting with inevitable de-
feat His reward was an eight years
term as member of the Republican Ma
tional Committee; he was chairman of
the Connecticut delegation to the con-
Vention that nominated Lincoln.
1t is at this point that the diary may
be said TO begin, although its first chap
Ter. as printed here. was not written
until several years later Lincoln's Sc
lection OF Welles for the Secretaryship
of the Navy, although he had probably
never seen seagoing vessel, appears to
have beer guided by the consideration
that New England must be represented
in the Cabinet. by his reputation for eff
cheney ard his proved aptitude for poll
tics, and, perhaps also by his previous
service in the department under Polk,
which, though IN reality of an eXcIu-
sively commercial nature may. as the
editor suggests, we'll have seemed to have
q nautical flavor" to the newly elected
inland President. However that may be,
the selection was a wise one, as the rec
ord of the navy during the war amply
testifies. Welles proved to be an efficient
organizer. whose services have received
but tardy recognition. as the important
part played by our sea forces in ending
the struggle has come to be gradually
recognized by the historians of the Civil
War Weiles refers to his services here
and there with justlfiable pride. 1t is
curious, however, to find him, lands
man. novice in naval affairs, objecting
nj the tine of his appointment to chase,
because he had never made finance a
study" ard to Senator Hale, chairman
OF the Naval Committee. and, perhaps
for that very reason. the favorite object
of his satire. because he was "embar-
rassed by no military or naval teaching"
Going still further in his inconsistency,
Welles bitterly resented tho charge Of
inexperience when il was levelled against
himself. confiding 10 his diary his opin-
4on OF the "factious fools" "Solomons"
and "officious blockheads' who suggest
ed thar a man OF practical naval expert
ence should have been selected for the
post. It is one Of the many unconscious
self-revelations OF the book.
If Welles justified Lincoln's appoint
sncnt OF him by his conduct Of the de-
partment, If the President rendered the
country a real service thereby in the
great crisis. he also, and perhaps by
mere chance, served himself, for Welles
alone in the Cabinet seems TO have
recognized from the very first the great
ness Of the man, his firmness Of pur-
pose behind his tactful patience, and TO
have given him his answering loyalty.
That indeed, next to his patriotism.
seems TO have been Welles's finest char
ncteristic, for il Is found again, in the
AaSer pages of this journal. in his atti-
fude toward his second chief Andrew
johnson.
And now begins the painting of Lin
coins Cabinet Interior" not forgetting
the Secretary of the Navy himself
welles, as he depicts himself here, lacks
the acidity of Adams, and also his i'm
pcrturbable egotism. He betrays even
less sense Of humor than does Polk, but
on the other hand, he is a master Of
sarcasm, still more, however, master of