New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-16
looks AND AUTHORS


'lidell. taken from the Trent by Cap
ain Wilkes. Lossing's History of the
livil War represents Lincoln as say
ug in a Confidential interview just
after the two ENJOYS were captured:
We fought Great Britain for insisting,
|y theory and practice, on the night TO
Io precisely what Captain Wilkes has
lone. II Great Britain shall now pro-
est against the act and demsnd their
release. We must give them up, apollo
yzing for tho act as violation OF our
doctrines, and thus forever bind her 10
leep the peace in relation TO neutrals
and so acknowledge that che has been
wrong for sixty years"
Lincoln felt keenly the cmbarrsss-
nents which would arise II the public
Kept demanding harsh treatment OF
Mason and Slidell, or holding them as
hostages for prisoners OF war in the
hands Of the Confederstes. With this
difficulty IN mind, he said TO Welles
that Mason and Slidell might turn out
TO be elephants on our hands. But
he apparently did not concern himself
very much about the international lsH
side OF the case. Welles had already
written a letter Of congratulstion to
Wilkes. and the House of Representa-
tiycs had passed a resolution thanking
him for holding up the Trent -.
Rhodes takes. as usual. a middle-of
the-road view Of Lincoln's attitude. lie
says;
Secretary Welles Is authority for
the statement that all the members
Of the Cabinet, except Blair, shared
his own iubilation and that OF the
House and the country at the ar
rest Of Mason and Slidell. Lincoln
was not carried away by the gen.
eral joy. He knew that the act OF
wilkes was not IN line with prin-
ciples for which we had contended,
and for this reason, and for the
further one that 1t might be hard
"a resist the popular clamor FOR
their summary punishment ne
feared that they would prove
TO be white elephants Had
Lincoln understood international
law as well as sumner, and had he
felt that confidence of public sup
mort which he did later, nc might
have directed this returning Ma
son and Slidell' for in doing a
richtful act he was capable or
breasting popular sentiment
His sense of the feeling OF the
people was kecner than his knowl-
edge Of international law, and
knowing that he had alionated the
radicals By his treatment Of Ere
mont. nc held back with his habit
ual caution from q peremptory
move which might also lose him the
support of that body Of conserva-
tive Republicans and war Demo
Gratis whose ideas were fairly es-
housed by "The New York Herald
If, as Welles asserts
Seward was at first as clated as
any one, reflection changed his
mind, for his dispatch to Adams
Of November 80 was prudent and
seems 70 indicate that he believed
the surrender of Mason and Slidell
10 be the probable solution Of the
difficulty.
Seward did afterward strongly ad-
,ocate their surrender, and the credit
,f that shrewd piece OF diplomacy was
almost entirely his After Great Brit
ANS ultimatum had come Lincoln drew
ID a tentative reply, proposing further
discussion or arbitration. But TINS
iraft was never submitted to the Cabi-
ret. Stewards answer and the argument
packing it were approved, though with
.ome reluctance, at the final Cabinet
Meeting.
According TO the younger Stewards
testimony, Lincoln was somewhat doubt
full as TO the merits of the tease until
he very end. He says that at the Cab
met meeting At which the note admit
ting the improperly of the seizures
vas first submitted an adjournment
without action was taken. Then he
adds:
After the other gentlemen had
retired the President said: Gov
crnor Seward, you will go on, OF
course, preparing your answer,
which. as I understand, will state
the reasons why they ought to be
given up. Now. ] have a mind 70
try my hand at stating the reasons
why they ought not TO be given UP.
We will compare the points on
each side
The next day tho Seward note was
approved unanimously. The author
When the others were gone my
father alluded to the conversation
Of the day before.
"You thought you might frame
an argument for the other sidc?"
Mr.. Lincoln smiled and shook
his head 81 found / could not
make an argument that would sat
isfy my own mind" he said, "and
that proved TO me your ground
was the right one
This testimony ought TO demolish
the Losing legend.
Here is q "reminiscences having moth
ng 20 do with politics. In 1888 r.
Peshine Smith came into the Office Of
The Albany Evening Journal with
he suggestion that a new word, "tele-
gram" be substituted for the cum
orous phrase photographic despatch" or
'telegrsphic message The sugges-
ion was welcomed and adopted. But
Il did not prove popular success.
Neither the newspapers nor the public
ook kindly 20 the new word. " grad
ally fell into disusc. Six months later
ilr. Smith came into the Office waving
copy Of "The London Times "See
lere,' said he, "'Thc Thunderer' has
got our word and, what is more, u
lpplauds II as a very convenient alb
)reviation. Now We Will see whether
The papers here will take any more
zindly TO II when it comes to US with
, foreign stamp
These "reminiscences are to some eI-
tent dislocatcd and fragmentsry. But
hey have a charm OF manner and an
air of authenticity which arc highly
They have behind them
he background of an. extraordinary
experience and Of character Of rare
,andor and poise. They will interest
very one who has a taste for the
- An4nns nf American nolitics