Evening journal., 1913-03-03
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
LinCOln'S Famous Secretary
Of State in a New Light
By Holland

"My father had as accurate aud
profound conception Of what the
future development Of the United
States was to be as any statesman
of his time and, I think, better un-
derstanding OF the course of our de-
velopment than almost any one OF the
statesmen who were prominent in the
early years of the republic"
So said Mr.. Frederick w. Seward,
who was assistant secretary of state
under his father in the administra-
ton of President Lincoln--to me some
years ago.
THE prevailing view of my fath-
er's character Mr.. Seward contin-
ued. was that he was almost exclu-
sively politician. very active in the
higher politics Of the Republican
party after that was organized. My
father was also regarded by the pub
lie men OF the time of the Civil War
and Immediately after as a diplomat
worthy Of general esteem.
But those who knew him best and
who were familiar with his habits Of
thought always realized that after all
the profound study which he gave 10
public questions and aside from the
important questions occasioned by
the Civil War the most intense inter
est which he manifested in American
affairs was due to his forecost Of the
future development OF the country
at was this study which led him TO
predict the mastery OF the United
States. over the future gigantic COM
merce of the Pacific, and he did this
before any one else ventured to make
a prediction OF this kind.
"He was also always greatly inter
ested i'm the development and growth
of the cities OF the United States. He
was fond of explaining why great
manufacturing center had been es-
tablished. in Pittsburg, or what the
reasons were which made Cincinnati
for so many years the commercial
metropolis of the Mississippi valley.
81 remember upon one occasion he
was asked whether he did not think
that New Orleans would in the course
Of years. and not many years, really
rival New York city as commercial
metropolis
"In reply. my father said. in sub
stantially these words: There arc
many reasons why New Orleans
should become one Of the greatest
commercial ports In the world. II Is
the port Of entry of river that floats
an enormous commerce. IL is nearer
South America and the West Indies
by a thousand miles than is New
York lt is much nearer the Pacific.
But until New Orleans changes some
things she is never likely to threaten
the prestige of New York, Boston or
Philadelphia
""The reason is this. In Boston and
in New York. in Philadelphia and in
Baltimore, there are almost count
less commodities manufactured which
are sold either to other sections Of
the Union or TO foreign lands. In
New Orleans, aside from sugar and
cotton. nothing is manufactured which
that city sells. II sells a good deal
OF cotton and molasses produced
there. but everything else that IL sells
it purchases in other parts of the
country. Now, city cannot become
great unless il makes things as well
as sells things. Some day I am con-
vinced that the people Of New Or
leans will awaken to the fact that
il their city is to be one of the worlds
greatest commercial centers her c'ti-
zens must cultivate various indus
tries. for the mere selling of goods
and putting these goods on vessels for
shipment does not make a CONNER
oial problem
Recently" continued Mr.. Seward
"there have been gratifying evidences
that the citizens Of New Orleans nov
] comprehend the philosophy OF com
I mercial growth which my father ev-
! pounded before he entered Presiden
| Lincoln's cabinet"
Copyright. 1918. by r. j. Edwards
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell O