Abraham Lincoln.
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final victory should crown the efforts of such which dictated appointments. There was al a great military man, although a civilian? ways uppermost the patriotic impulse, and Whether or not Mr. Lincoln ever made the the clear, discriminating, statesmanlike qual remark attributed to him by Professor Smith ity. about "printing- more money" is exceedingly Mr. Lincoln has so far been discussed doubtful. Mr. Smith refers to it as a "story, '? from a negative viewpoint. Some criticisms, which it likely is, and offers no proof of its which tend to detract from, and to cast a re genuineness. If it was ever said, it must have flection on the great name and fame of the been uttered jocosely and not seriously. Xo martyred President, have been taken as a one believes that Lincoln, possessed as he text. An attempt has been made to reply to was with hard, sound sense, was capable of these criticisms. Let us now examine some such an utter want of business judgment or of the positive qualities which have made the political foresight. The merest schoolboy great and growing fame of Abraham Linwould not have the audacity to seriously,coln. For,that that fame is both great and suggest it. growing is no longer an open question. Let What would have been Lincoln's recon us ascertain, if possible, why that fame is in struction policy no one can certainly know. creasing, why its universality, whence its It is easy enough to indulge in speculations greatness. about it now. It is a harmless pastime. The Abraham Lincoln was a typical American. best thought of the period immediately suc He was the best product which distinc ceeding the Civil War, however, believed that tively and exclusively American conditions the reconstruction policy which Mr. Lincoln and environments were capable of evolving. would have inaugurated, had he lived, would His intimate acquaintance with poverty in have been more efficient, more satisfactory his early life, his close relations with the to the South, and, withal, more in keeping lower and poorer classes in his young man with lofty ideals of a democratic government, hood, his inherent love of justice for all ranks than the policy pursued by President John and conditions of men, his love of truth, his son. Certain it is that Mr. Johnson's policy hatred of wrong, pointed to him as essen of dealing with the South was a mistaken tially the fittest representative of the people, one. The rest is, and must be, unwritten and and especially of the plain people, which this unknown history. country had ever produced. His education Possibly, upon some of the intricate details and experiences had prepared him for great, of governmental affairs, Lincoln would not for supremely great effort, in behalf of what have proved an adept. So far as there have ever cause he chose to become identified. been actual tests made he was generally This was not alone indicated by his great en right. His measure of men for high position durance, physical and mental. It was mani in the public service was well nigh intuitive. fest in a carefully trained mind, trained it is Not only were his appointments generally true, under the administration of a noble wise, but rarely could there have been better mother, in early life, supplemented, however, selections made. This is evidenced in his ap- I •by the behests of a laudable ambition, and pointment of Mr. Seward as Secretary of an industry which was simply herculean. To State; of Mr. Stanton as Secretary of War; this mother he has been known to say, when of Mr. Chase as Secretary of the Treasury, President, that "all I am or hope to be, I and later, as Chief Justice of the Supreme owe." She it was who taught him to read and enjoined upon him never to swear, never Court. The list could be increased almost in to touch liquor, and never to lie, injunctions definitely. And it was not mere partisanship
