THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 14, 1915
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MAJOR-GEJfERALi HOOKER, Cin
clnnati, Ohio:
"Is It Lieutenant Samuel D. ravt
n-hose death sentence is commuted? If
not done, let it be done. Ia there not
an associate of his also In trouble?
Please answer.
"A. LINCOLN."
This telegram -was sent by Abraham
Lincoln from the White House on his
last birthday alive. It typifies the
plrit of the man in the last days of his
life and Is exemplary of the attitude
he took, not only toward Individuals
but toward the peoples and the states
who were opposed In arms to the Union.
The military rigors of the closing
Maya of the war compelled harsh meas
ures, not only in dealing with the ene
my but in dealing with those within
the forces of the North who were guilty
f desertion, neglect or treachery, and
the columns of the daily papers of the
time were replete with paragraphs
beaded, as a rule, "Execution of the
Conspirators." "The Spies Shot" or
"Execution of Deserters."
Naturally there was a great outcry in
the North, from relatives and political
xrlendse of the men condemned by mili
tary courts. Continual pressure was
brought to bear upon the President
throughout the war in this respect, but
he left these matters to the discretion
of the Generals in the field for the most
part.
A perusal of his papers during the
weeks preceding and foUowlng his
birthday. February II. 1865, show that
he was giving especial atention to these
matters. In the month of February
alone he sent at least ten telegrams
suspending or delaying executions or
asking for full reports of the trials for
his personal examination.
In some cases he upheld the decree of
the military courts. In others he issued
pardons, and it Is said that in at least
one case the man who had been con
victed was hi reality a Government
secret service agent unknown to the
military authorities, who had convicted
him for the very acts he committed In
the service of the Union.
It has been asserted by some biog
raphers of Lincoln that he felt premoni
tions of his death in the months fol
lowing his second election and if this
be true It is possible that the shadow
over his soul may have caused him to
be more clement than was his rule. All
are agreed that he was always compas
sionate and slow to condemn, but he
was sensible of the necessity for stern
Justice and was not given to mock
mercy of the weak-kneed, sentimental
kind.
The President's birthday itself had no
pecial significance in 185. It Is doubt
ful if many outside his immedlte fam
ily realised when the day occurred. It
would be a small percentage of Ameri
cans today who could state the date of
President Wilson's birth arid in the
last stages of the Civil War the Nation
was too sorely beset by pressing, vital
problems, sorrow and anxiety to recog
nise the birthday of the man who him
elf was the Tortex ot ail the maelstrom
of political, military and executive ac
tivities. It is known, however, that Lincoln's
last birthday season saw the President
more cheerful, more hopeful of a peace
which should save the Union than he
had been at any other time during the
war.
He had recently met commissioners
of the Confederate government on
steamer at Hampton Roads and al
though the Interview had led to noth
ing, the President felt that the dis
sension evident between the commis
sioners from the South meant a speedy
conclusion of the conflict.
Nicolay and Hay. writing of the
President's general feelinn in February.
1865. say: "His interview with the
rebel commissioners doubtless strength
ened his former convictions that the re
bellion was waning in enthusiasm and
resources, and that the Union cause
must triumph at no distant day. Secure
tn his renewal of four years' personal
leadership and hopefully . Inspired by
every sign of early victory in the war.
his only thought was to shorten by gen
erous conciliation the period of dread
ful conflict. HIS temper was not one
of exultation, but of broad, patriotic
charity and of keen, sensitive personal
sympathy for the whole country and all
Its people. South as well as North, His
conversation with Stephens. Hunter and
Campbell had probably revealed to him
glimpses of the undercurrent of their
anxiety that fraternal bloodshed and
the destructive ravages of war might
somehow come to an end."
Just before the President's birthday
the House of Representatives passed a
resolution requesting the President to
communicate to It such Information as
he might deem compatible with the
public Interest concerning his interview
... rnfdarata Commissioners.
The President sent to the House a mea.
saKe summarising the transactions on
board the steamer, which actually
amounted to nothing at alL This mes
sage was received February 10 and a
nhort discussion occurred in the House.
According to Nicolay and Hay:
"It (the discussion) did not rise above
the level of an ordinary party wrangle.
The few Democrats who took part In it
complained of the President for refus
ing an armistice, while the Republi
cans retorted with Jefferson Davis
conditions about the two countries' and
the mora recent declaration of his
Richmond harangue, announcing his
readiness to perish for independence.
On the whole, both Congress and the
country were gratified that the incident
had called out Mr. Lincoln's renewed
declaration of an unalterable resolve
to maintain the Union. Patriotic hope
was quickened and public confidence
strengthened by noting once more his
singleness of purpose and steadfastness
of faith. "No act of his could have
formed a more fitting prelude to his
second Inauguration, which was now
rapidly approaching, and the prelimi
nary steps of which were at this time
being consummated."
This feeling throughout the country
and In Congress was becoming evident
to th.e President on his last birthday,
so much so that he commented on it to
his friends and advisers. It showed
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day the first of the cotton ships Sher
man had sent from Savannah put Into
Now Tork and Newport, K. I. The
newspapers of February 13 featured the
dispatches announcing the arrival of
the vessels and commenting with fsvor
on the prospects of getting great car
goes of cotton from the newly opened
ports of the South.
The dailies were also filled with dis
patches telling of the prouress ot
Grant's campaign against I.re, whl'h
was beslnnlng so to formulate itself
that Appomattox should end the war.
and that Sherman hud completed his
march to the sea. Nono vlewv.i the ap
proach of peace with greater gratifies,
tlon than did Lincoln, ami it was with
the spirit of this period i-f last
birthday upon him that he v.-rule his
second Inaugural address. whUh is
fraught with human sympathy, so ex
pressive of the character of the man.
The sad story of the threat rreshlenfs
death is familiar to nil. That tt was
to follow so closc'-s' on his hist birth
day, so lightened by hope and frratltude
for the success of the Union cause,
none could foresee, unless, as some
writers declare, the President himself
had forebodings of it.
If there were any thoughts of death
In his mind on this, his la.-t birthday,
however, it is Innro than likely that
they were due to n consciousness of
having lubored umier too terrific a
strain for any man to survive, especial
ly with four years more of vexatious
problems and unceasing lahor ahead.
In all events. It is plcaKA-.it to con
template that the closing months of
Abraham Lincoln's life were pitted
with a feollnu of peace which for long
he had not known. It was during these
months that ho conceived that closing
paragraph ot his second Inaugural ad
dress: "With malice toward none, with
charity for all, with firmness in th
right as God gives us to see the right,
let ub strive on to finish the work we
are in, to bind up the Nation's wounds,
to care for him who shall have borne
the battle, and for his widow and hts
orphan to do 'all which may achieve
und cherish a Just and lasting peace
among ourselves and with nil nations."
Told By and About Lincoln
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Lincoln e rtrintlm.
There were many who tried to maks
political capital out of Lincoln's re
ligious beliefs or the allepnl lack of
any such beliefs. On one occasion an
Illinois clergyman asked the rrcshlont
If he was a Christian. The reply Is ss
full of pathos aa are so many ot Lin
coln's savings full of humor:
"When I left Springfield I asked the
people to pray for me: I was not a
Christian. When I hurled tny son. the
severest trial of my life, I was not a
Christian. But when I went to Gettys
burg and saw the graves of thousands
of our soldiers I then and there. conse
crated myself to Christ. I do love
Jesus."
la a I'redlraaieat.
The usual droves of office gs-kers
beset Mr. Lincoln after his first inaug
uration. He was fairly besieged by
them, and at tho same time Important
news came hourly from the South. Hi
had no time to give to politics, yet h
realized that ho must Rive attention to
his appointments or tho Administration
would suffer. Speaking of the situa
tion to a friend, ho said:
"I am llko a man so busy letting
rodms in ono end "of his house that ho
cannot stop to put out a fire that is
burning in the other."
Their Last Ride Together.
On the afternoon of April 14. 18fi, a
few hours before ho was fhot. Presi
dent Lincoln was driving w ith his wife.
He was in unusually good spirits;
much so that his wife said: "You al
most startle me by your cheerfulness. '
"And well I may feel so. Mary," ho
replied, "for I consider this day the.
war has come to a close We must
hpth be more cheerful in the future.
Hetween the war and the loss of our
darling Willie we'have been very miserable."
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wa, b.hId him. President Lincoln that he had been had in his possession return, from the returns opened, as they 'could In no pos-
and that he would be supported to the elected President of the United States
... . . , T-v. - AiAtn..,i ..nlTot'- mt and voted,
completion ei ms wora ui -- . t. ... .... , , nt loval states.
the Union. and " February 8 the two nouses xieiu . countedf Bbowing 212 electoral
Almost In the nature of a blrtnetay uongrea assemoieo m juuu t....,.. II" ' . tea for Lincoln and 21 for McClellan.
Vice-President announced mat no mem wu u uomim "
.... t i n.a.c hnl nlhla manner affect tne result,
in obedience to the exlsUng law he therefore
and
only the returns Irom tne
Including West Virginia.
gift came the formal announcement to The
LESSONS IN SOIL REPAIR
(Continued From Page 8.)
was driven north of Columbia River
tn 18S7 by S. D. Ruddell. of Thurston
County. Washington.
Not until the early 70s were pure
bred cattle Introduced in the North
west. In 1871 W. S. Ladd and S. Q.
Reed imported some Shorthorn. Ayr
shire and Jersey infusions for their
stock farm In Washington County. In
1870 Benjamin Stewart brought Devons
to Yamhill County, and about this time
Cowiits River. The British brought to
Oregon cattle, sheep and hogs, which
multiplied fast. But It was not until
1SS7 that any considerable supply of
cattle was available. In that year
Ewing Toung brought a herd from
California. These were known as
"Spanish cattle" and their blood re
mained In Oregon long; . perhaps Is
vm TkM were hardy and
vicious and made much trouble for the W. C. Myer. of Jackaon County. Imported
settlers. Many went wild and roamed tnorougnDrea jerseys. i "'c"-
the woods. With the arrival of Amer- that have contributed to the improve-
ican pioneers from the Middle West, ment of Willamette Valley herds since
beginning In the "40s. came the more that time have been numerous and a
docile breed of Shorthorn or Durham large volume could be written of their
cattle. David Guthrie, of Polk County, achievements and biographies. Suffice
pioneer of 1S4S. was probably the earli- it here to say, the cattle industry in
est to bring in highbred Shorthorns, the Willamette Valley has been built
In 1847 John Wilson brought another slowely and on a lasting basis. In the
One herd from Illinois. Captain Ben- dairying branch much has been done
sen and J. C Greer. Sr- also brought and much is promised for the future,
jood cattle that year. The first large It may be In place to note that an
Influx of cattle came across the plains important fodder product for this work
In 184S. I am informed by George H. is kale, which was Introduced at Mil-
Hlmes that the first Shorthorn bull waukie in 187 by Richard Scott. An
other highly valued food is vetch,
which was introduced here in 1870 by
William Chalmers. and which grows
luxuriantly In Willamette Valley. This
pea plant has a first cousin in the
wild pea which thrives here abundant
ly In brush places, thus indicating the
favorable natural conditions.
tal value of cattle in Oregon was
in the 1910 census as $17,670,685
(To Be Continued Next Week.)
LAND OF NORTH WIND
He Gave It Away.
Mr. Herndon, .once Lincoln's law
partner, frequently related that on on
occasion a man with a case tho merits
of which Lincoln did not sppreclate
requested the future President to try It
In court. Mr. Lincoln thought for a
moment and then said:
Yes. there is no reasonable doubt
that I can gain your case for you. . T
can set a whole neighborhood at Iok
The usual committee was appointed gerheads; I can distress a widowed
wait upon tho President, wno re- mother ana ner six isiuchch iumm-i.
and thereby get for you tiu". wmcn
rightfully belongs, it appears to me.
as much to them as it does to you. t
shall not take your case, but I will
give a little advice for nothing. You
seem a sprightly, energetic man. t
would advise you to try your hand at
making $600 in some other way."
to
ceived them with a short formal ad
dress, which was followed by an In
formal one.
On the very day of Lincoln's blrth-
. . .. . .i ..l.ahla watjkPH.
THOUGH much is written about west- Along mosi. oi iucoo
v,.r. situated from 100 to 250 miles apart.
A I'se for Everytbln.
A friend of Mr. Lincoln's called
hla attention that
certain member
The to- of th8 Hudson Bay company. in ... c...M.nt althouab. Lincoln
given that dominion. f" fort UsuaHy consist of a picketed or - - Wandldate for r.nomlna-
toKlrarlert aouan Inclosing a numoer ui , .
the vast northern wastes of stand the lonely trading jjost. or forts wa ,ccklnff to b. nom
life vary but little from wnat tney
were a century ago.
Until very recent' years the great
wilderness of swamp and forest
stretching from the head of Lake Win
nipeg east to Hudson Bay, and north-,
erly to the Arctic circle, was known
as the district of Keewatin.
log or frame buildings, usually tour
or five, with a tall flag pole rising
In the center, from which, on special
occasions, floats the red ensign of the
company.
Th staff of the smaller outposts
generally consists of one white man as
Wltn WD or inreo
Poison la Perspiration.
London Standard.
Professor Arlolng, of Lyons, France.
pToved by experiment that human per-
,. 1. rrlt.nr It la
t on hums With the exception of small detach-. orIicer in charge,
actually i. - " t xr.,Kc mnnntert Tolic a . .. t - ' . ; .s.lstant. or doe-
jLwav the eDidermig of sensitive skins miou w.-w r . - nan-Dreeu - -
adUvea themTtaost raw. It is im- few scattered misBlonaries, and the Qrivers. ln m0,t cases these post,
and loaves them almost raw. it is i Qn company's traders ' and ftra altuated in a virgin wilderness, far
checked- It is equally important in hot employes, this vast district is peopled lrom civlllIatlon. the trader may not """J Mlccd m. what I
weather to change one's underclothing entirely by Indian, of the Cree and. gee a felIOW whit, man for six month. M rot x
Tverv oy Salteaux tribes, and, ln the far north- at a stretch, and has only the society or; luten la tn.t way.
every ouy- . j , i.-,. i . i . . v. i v. .hn,rf iprvn n t . norso M
tint, . Th 1'resiaeni sermcu io u
rather amused at the announcement
and told this story:
My brother and I were ones plow
ing corn on a Kentucky farm, I driving
the horse and he holding the plow.
The horse was lazy, but on one occasion
rushed fccross the field so that L with
my long legs, could hardly keep pace
with him. On reaching the end of the
furrow I found an enormous rhln-fly
fastened upon him, and knocked It off.
a i a i n i
the old
ern portion, a few wandering Eskimos afforded by his half-breed servant
and Chippewayans. wide. World.
This country. In which Winter of al- . :
most Arctic severity holds sway for Calling ef a Bluff.
' " .v. I. h. vur ! antmtrlr Atchison UIODe.
couW come anywhere near guessing """rr "7 '' 7J e h. a bluff i. called merely
ol large m - l '
drainlng Into Hudson say. because i
Gamins Her Age.
Judge.
Miss Withers Do yon think
you
my age 7
ot safety.
-Not with any' degree
streams
rn-hr.1 said my brother, 'that's all
that made him go."
"If Mr. ' has a Presidential
chin-fly biting him I'm not going to
knock It off. If It will only make his
department go." .
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