Evening star., 1928-04-06
10000 ITEMS IN LINCOLN PAPERS
HELD IN LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Rewriting of History May Follow Publ
cation of Civil War Documents
After 81 Years.

This vast store of material was care
fully put away by President Lincoln and
his secretaries, mostly during the Ctvil
War and up to the tragedy at FoFd's
Theater, the night of April IL, 1865.
1t was assorted from obvious state doeu-
ments by these functionaries and close
friends who began their labors immedi-
ately after the assassination, and within
a fortnight or two the work was COM
pleted. A modest squib in the news
papers of the day announced that the
items had been taken from the White
House and sent to one of Mr.. Lincoln's
closest friends, Judge David Davis, at
Springfield, Ill. for safe-keeping.
Secrecy Rigidly Observed.
Every one connected with the search
and who had any contact with the
papers was pledged not to revail any,
thing they might have seen. and so
far as is known they kept the words
to the letter At this time Robert t.
Lincoln, the son, was % years old, and
since he had not finished his college
course in law, he resumed his studies.
Subsequently Judge Davis turned the
papers over to Robert T. Lincoln. who
is understood TO have kept them in
the valuts of the Pullman Palace Oar
Co. in Chicago, of which concern ne
become president on the death of
George M, Pullman in 1897 Judge
Davis had been an appointee OF Presi-
dent Lincoln to the United States Su-
prenle Court, in 1872 he became q cam
diuate for the Presidency ON the Labor
Reform party platform, and from 1877
TO 1883 United States Senator from
Illinois. a part of which time he served
as president Of the Senate. He died in
1885. -as
Meanwhile. Robert T. IAncoln had
served as Secretary of War IN the cabi-
rets of Presidents Garfield and Arthur
from 1881 TO 1885. and as Ambassador
70 Great Britain from 1889 TO 1898
When his fathers remarkable career
waslcm short at Ford's Theater, rumors
of cabinet changes filed the air, but
only one change was made Immediately
This put In the portfolio Of Secretary OF
the Interior James Harlan Of Iowa, for
mer Senator, who replaced Secretary
John p. Usher Of Indiana, Mr.. Lincoln
married Mary Harlan. daughter Of Sec
retary Harlan, in 1868, during the adj
ministration of Andrew johnson as
President.
Lang business association caused a
strong friendship TO spring up between
Mr., Lincoln, associate counsel and
George NJ Pullman. president Of the
Pullman Co. and both Of these leaders
in the transportation world found fire.
ouent occasion to visit Washington,
Soon after Mr.. Pullman died his widow
removed here. and BY erecting the pres
ent Russian embassy building. on Six
teenth street, added greatly to the po-
litical prestige Of her son-fn-law, Frank
Q, LOwden of Illinois, who had mar
ried the favorite daughter of the house,
hold. Florence Pullman, in 1895. Mrs
Pullman and the Lowdens lived in this
palace and entertained royalty during
Mr. Lowden's terms In Congress, but
the scene of his political activities was
shifted 20 Illinois, and the home was
sold to the imperial Russian govern
ment while George Bakmeteff, the aris-
tocrat and czarist, was Ambassador.
Owing TO the non-recognition of Boil
shevik Russia by the United States, this
mansion is still unoccupied.
Lived Here In Retirement.
Mr. Lincoln retired from the Pullman
Co In 1911, since which time. up TO his
death. he spent mos of hts DAYS In re-
ttrement as resident Of Georgetown.
his quiet home having been at S0I4 N
street. Here, with occasional trips to
his Summer place In New England, he
spent 10 years approximately Upon
him fell the aftermath of showers OF
letters expressing sympathy for his de-
parted father and asking all kinds Of
questions. At first he tried 10 answer
such letters but finally gave II up as
hopeless and instructed his secretary to
show him no more. The admirers OF
Lincoln who survive should know that
when they failed to receive a reply IL
was not because the son was indifferent,
but FOR the reason that he was swamped
beyond comprehension.
The weight of responsibility bore
heavily upon this man. who had been
a gay Harvard student and debonair
member OF the staff of Grant. Knowl-
edge Is power. but II does not beget
happiness necessarily-the contrary Is
usually true. Bacon gave expression TO
such . sentiment, and men ever since
nave found IL out, SO was the wisdom
OF robert !. Lincoln augmented as he
spent many weary hours porlng over
the papers whose sentiments had be-
come warp and woof of his fathers
life. No doubt many OF these docu-
mentS caused Abraham Lincoln TO Law
his course straight for the evil harbof
OF assassination, and II is entirely pos,
slbe Ii not likely, that In this aeeumu-
lati0n may be found lock and key 10
Wv alAAtNA NAHoNS VI Alts tNAthH OH.
Robert 4, Lincoln was not willing To
destroy the papers or to produce them
Tor vulgar eyes To gaze upon while he
or any one survived who might have
been contemporary with his father,
But he evidently wanted the truth 30
stand revealed as Herndon. his fathers
law partner. said that one day Il would
after some time be past"
Frcauentea Library.
with this one thought IN his mind |
excluding all others. The moody man
who Inherited such wake of sorrow, |
but who resembled his parent little In |
looks or disposition, began 10 visit the |
Library of Congress once year In |
his declining years, Cautiously Mr |
Lincoln asked about books and the |
facilities for keeping them. of the life |
span nf papers and books, and the |
likelihood OF fire; of the space available |
for aeeesaions, and such He became |
quite friendly with the librarian, Her |
bert Putnam, whnae answers Ia his !
inquiries and cordial reception og him |
him that the beautiful city |
where his fathers fame spread, and |
not at Springfield where the EmAneiv |
natOT lieS hurled Was tha nraoan KNlaaa |