Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-06
BY CHARLES M. PEPPER.

a 0Ew studies of Lincoln are GUS
lMl tomary in connection with an
Nj niversary "reminiscences. Some
q " of them are based on old ma
terial. and some on personal recoilec-
lions of the few now living who knew
Lincoln as politician. Most OF the
new material is drawn from the ILLINOIS
contemporaries. of whom very Re"
survive These Illiuoisans who knew
Lincoln" were themselves a group OF
able politicians. as was evidenced IN
their public careers.
When Lincoln was just becoming
national figure there was some siin'-
larity to recent political conditions.
There was unrest and uncertainty. the
shifting of party ties, the breakup OF
political organizations and the rcaiisn-
ment of their members.
Four years ago the dissentient mem
bers of the republican party who we're
following col Roosevelt were fond OF
COMPARING themselves to the men who
formed the party. They were sure the
historic republican party was as dead
as the old whig organization had been
when the vigorous new republican
party was formed. 4 very short time,
however. has disclosed that the disrup-
ton was not so deep as they supposed.
While the old guard republicans are
now showing themselves more receptive
as to progressive ideas, they may jus
tify their refusal four years ago to
accent the progressive platform in re-
gard to recall. referendum and some
other policies. by I-incolns attitude
when similar condition confronted the
republican party of war times.
THE temptation to lower the repuo-
lican standard in order to gam re
cruits." he declared. is gap throueh
which more would pass out than IN.
With a national campaign approach
ing in which it is known the present
occupant of the White House VIII oe
renominated. although there rs opposl-
ton within his party. the late Senator
shelby Culloms "reminiscences OF the
incidents attending Lincoln's renomi-
nation have some pertinence.
Senator Cullom was accustomed 70
tell how when he came to Washington
from Springfield he found the atmos-
phere so charged with opposition that
he feared President Lincoln did not
appreciate the situation and might be
really in danger of defeat at the re-
publican national convention
When he called at the White House
and told his fears Lincoln remarked,
Its not so bad as that. and puiied
out a note book In which the delegates
were carefully checked off. with mere
and there some comment Cullom leit
the White House in more comfortapie
frame of mind. and when ne returned
to Illinois treasured the Presidents
neighbors Later. when he again called
on Lincoln, the President reminded MN
of his previous visit and of his appre-
hension. as usual. telling story.
This Lincoln story, as Senator Gull
lom was in the habit of reciting II, al
ways with apologies for his INABILITY
to reproduce Lincoln's words, ran
something as follows:
Two Irishmen who had recently ar
rived in the United States started on
foot out into the country They trav-
eled along until they came TO a piece
of woods. They heard some queer
sounds or imagined they did. but could
not locate them. and became scared
They deployed on either side of the
road to find out. but were unable to
to the other. Pat. Pat. let's go on
This is nothing but noise.
So the opposition to him, Lincoln said,
was apparently nothing but a noise.
President Wilson's friends may be
ready to make the application to the
present situation.
Joseph McCullagh. famous as a war
correspondent under the name of
Mack" and subsequently as editor Of
the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, was au-
thority on personal knowledge for fix
ing one of the best known of Lincoin's
stories following the denomination.
According to Mack Lincoln, when
the news came from Baltimore, said
that he could not account for it except
by an incident that happened out in IL
linois once. Two men were riding on
horseback from opposite sides of a
small river They met in midstream,
and one of them said to the other:
That's a fine horse; how will you
trade" oh" said the other. cts a bad
time TO swap horses when you are
crossing a stream" Crossing stream
meant for Mr. Lincoln at that time
conducting a war. and swapping horses
meant changing Presidents
While ne had opposition 10 his re-
nomination. the belief of many of Lin
coins Illinois contemporaries was that