Evening star., 1936-04-12

can be said today about Abra-
ham Lincoln that has not al
ready been said and printed:
His humble birth. his early hardships
his determination to win, his ultimate
triumph over all obstacles, culminat-
ing with his election to the highest
Office in the gift of the people; his
subsequent saving of the Union Of the
States, and, finally, his dastardly as
sassination.
But what a strang life it was, inter-
mingled from the cradle to the grave
with poverty, distress, limited school,
ing. laborious work and handicaps
which, to the ordinary person, would
seem insurmountable. And yet, en-
doWed by nature with a cheerful dis
position, an honorable but determined
ambition to succeed, marvellous in
tellect and love for his fellow man,
he stands out today as one of Amer
1ca's greatest two men.
There may be some who will not
subscribe to the many virtues claimed
for the martyred Lincoln, but at least
there can be no grateful heart that
will not thank the Almighty that such
a man was born and lived at a time
when he, and probably only he, could
have kept the States intact under one
Constitution and under one glorious
Star Spangled Banner.
There are few people now living
whose minds are perfectly clear on
the events occurring at Washington
during the dark days of the Civil War,
and especially regarding the great
tragedy of 1865, and SO it is quite
necessary to quote from what others
have said on the subject, and, per-
haps-what is always best-to repeat
what others have said who were near
est to the President, and whose obser-
yations were naturally Of the best.
The fatal assault on President Lin
coin, on the night Of April IA, 1865,
and his death the following morning,
though a great shock to the Nation,
had, nevertheless, been looked for
from the time of his first election to
the presidency, in November, 1860,
and especially we're rumors rife from
the time he left Springfield to be in
augurated President in 1861. Col.
Ward Hill Lamon, who was intimately
acquainted with Mr.. Lincoln for many
years before he became President, was
delegated as the President-elects body
guard. to accompany him to WASH
angton. Later he was appointed mar
shall Of the District of Columbia.
Allan Pinkerton, the noted Amer
lean detective, who was born in Scot,
land in 1919 and died in this country
IN 1884, also accompanied the Pres
tdent-elect to this city in 1861.
MANY years after the assassina-
ton Of President Lincoln, the
former marshal of the District, in re-,
ferring to the tragic death of the
great Civil War President and the
continuous fear for his life, begin
ming five years before the end
finally came, is quoted as having said:
Before the train drew out of Spring.
held station, more than a hundred
persons, friends Of us both, pressed
my hand with some such remark as
Lamon, you look out for him, or by
your life will pay for his!'
After the night spent In Indianapolis,
this threat was even impressed upon
me in formal way. namely: Gov.
Yates, Jesse Dubois. Josiah Allen and
others lured me into room, locked
the door ana proceeded to instruct me
rs to my duties as Lincoln's life pro-
tector. At the conclusion of his we'll
meant advice, the speaker, Uncle
jesse Dubois-I remember his words
even today-said: Now, Lamon, the
sacred life Of Mr.. Lincoln is in your
keeping; If you don't protect it, never
return to the West, for we will murder
you on sight
"Up to Harrisburg everything went
well, but upon our arrival there we
found dispatches saying that an at
tempt upon Lincoln's life would be
made in the Baltimore railway sta
ton, all preliminaries being settled.
knowing full well that Baltimore
fairly swarmed with conspirators and
that the populace itself was mimi
cal to Lincoln, we were doubly i'm
pressed by the news received from
trustworthy friends, especially when
later dispatches informed us that all
the stations between Harrisburg and
Washington were watched by persons
In the plot.
x told Mr.. Lincoln. and hs con-