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Lieut. Gen. WmfieIdScotf9Uo S. A.,
after hearing several addresses made by Mr.
Merwin from President Lincoln's Carriage, to the
regiments gathering in Washington, „said, to the
President, (quietly): ''A man of sucnTorceaiaT
moral power to inspire courage, patriotism, faith
and obedience among the troops is worth to the
army more than a half-dozen regiments, of raw re-
cruits." "The American Soldier in a volunteer
war like this, could not be treated like the Soldier
of European Armies."
[See fac-similie of Gen. Scott's further strong Endorsement on next page.]
>l
J
III .1. QO IRTBR8 Ol l ill-. All MY, ,
W , SHIM. |. IN I
CT& £6^? ^ji^y
x
A BIT OF HISTORY
From the New York '''Evening Post"
7
1\
'The Strength of the Army"
'Temperance and Discipline in the Ranks— Affairs in Congress'
A
[From the Regular Correspondent of the New York Evening Post]
-Washington. May 21, 1862.
"The news made -public today of
the sharp fight at McDowell, Vir-
ginia, and the advance of the rebels
up the valley towards Winchester,
shows plainly why General Banks
moved back thirty' miles upon Stras
burg. There is some dissatisfactio:
I hear, in official quarters ^at- the
parent lack of effective -troops w
such an enormous army is on the pAy
rolls. Six hundred thousand men lire '
paid every month, and if less by
one hundred thousand can be found it
follows that somebody pockets the
money."
%. ^ ■% # ;f; % i\r-
TEMPERANCE IN THE ARMY
"Some facts published by the House
from the Military Committee show
that many of our highest officers are
very favorable to temperance in the
army. Mr. J. B. Merwin was called
by President Lincoln into the army,
to address the soldiers. General Scott
gave him the following written intro-
duction and endorsement 'I esteem
the mission of Mr. Merwin to t^e
army a happy circumstance, and re-
"The fac-similies reproduced here-
with are exact reproductions from the^
original manuscript still in Mr. Me:
win's possession. President Lincoln
sought to, and did commission him as
major, but red tape constantly inter-
rfered with his work.
The testimonial to the warm appre-
ciation to Mr. Merwin's usefulness in
his great work is numerously signed
by those who heard him. A few of
the names it may be well to prin
here as follows:
\s
quest all commanders to give him
free access to all of our camps and
posts, and also to multiply occasions to
enable him to address our officers and
men . ' '
"This is important evidence, from
the greatest soldier of the country,
upon a mooted subject: — -whether lec-
tures, speeches or concerts have any
proper place in the army. Nearly all
the regular army officers contended
last winter, when the Hutchinsons
were here, that it was grossly im-
proper for any lecturer or singer to
have contact with the troops. The
regular chaplain might preach and
pray on Sunday, but even he should
confine himself strictly to religious
subjects. General Scott thought dif-
ferently."
"He repeatedly said last summer
and autumn that, 'The American
soldier, in a volunteer war like this,
could not be treated like the soldier
of European armies, for he is an in-
telligent being. ' General Butler said:
'The mission of Mr. Merwin will
be of great benefit to the troops.'
General Dix approved this, adding
'The use of intoxicating drinks as
beverage is the curse of the service."
Hon. Charles Summer, U. S. S.
Hon. W. A. Buckingham, U. S. S.
>n. O. H. Browning, U. S. S.
Hon. Richard Yates, U. S. S.
Hon. James Harlan, U. S. S.
Hon. Henry Wilson, U S. S.
Hon. Lyman Trumbull. U. S. S.
Hon. J. R. Doolittle. U. S. S.
Hon. James W. Grimes, U. S. S.
Hon. Timothy O. Howe, U. S. S.
Hon. David Wilmont, U. S. S.
Hon. Isaac N. Arnold, M. C.
Hon John F. Potter, M. C.
Hon. Thomas Drummond, Judge, and
over one hundred others comprising the name
of nearly all the State governors, beside other
U. S. Senators, members of Congress an
prominent citizens."
i
xT
President Lincoln's Military Order
Execi rivi M INSION, )
WASH INGTOM I
Ji
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fy & 9-, /UZ.
The above is i fac simile of a military order, issued in- President Lincoln, to thi -
General of the United St.itcs army, after Lieut. Gen. Scott, had, at his own request been r« i
An
Ev
e n i
ng
Wi
th
Ab
rah
am
Linco
In
jjHiiiiHiiiiimiiii
■HHH
A Lecture of Absorbing Interest
Abounding in reminiscences and anecdotes descriptive of his life
and achievements, by one who knew him well, who, in his life
was the friend and confidant of the martyred President.
Maj. J. B. Merwin, of St. Louis, Mo.
m
7
A
£^£~^
-j, £9; /XU.
Facsimile of Autograph Order of Abraham Lincoln
An Evening With
Abraham Lincoln
AS long as time endures, or this
nation exists the name of
Abraham Lincoln will be a hal-
lowed one to every liberty loving
person on earth, no matter where
he may be found, or what his
nationality or creed, Washing-
ton, the father of his country.
Lincoln, its savior, are names that
will never die. What memories
the name of Lincoln inspires —
what patriotic thoughts kindle, by the recollection of his deeds. Lincoln the
reformer — Lincoln the patriot — Lincoln the emancipator. Can those of
mature years forget while living the shock that came, the indignation that
spread over land and sea when news of his assassination was flashed
around the world.
All civilization poured its sympathy to us in the loss of the best friend that
liberty had — the champion of the poor and down trodden. From first to
last he was the peoples' champion. "The great commoner," he has been
called. Of his glorious achievements the whole world knows. Of his
assassination, ELIHU BURRITT, THE NOTED AMERICAN, writing to a friend,
said: "The irrepressible conflict has come and gone. It is behind us. We
can now face a new future and see God's face in it with hope and comfort.
There is one event just gone to the record of these great years, so sublime
in its working upon the mind of the world, that it seems to be taken up into
the ranks of those Divine Providences and Revelations that have come at
intervening spaces of a thousand years to mark the history of God's dealings
with mankind. Certainly not for a thousand years has the death of one man
produced such an impression upon the whole of Christendom, as the sudden
and most atrocious taking off of Abraham Lincoln. No American life ever
had such a burden put upon it; none that has breathed on our continent ever
performed a greater work. But he was stronger in his death than in his
life. Living, he saw the wide and ensanguined rift in the American Union
close forever its devouring jaws to open no more : dying, he closed the wider
chasm between the two hemispheres. I say it reverently, by death, he made
of twain one, abolishing the enmity between the Old World and New.
between England and America. The fires of indignation that burst forth
from the heart of the English nation at his martyrdom, and the surging flood
of sympathy with our country at the bereavement with it unlocked, seemed
in one day and night, to burn up and down every unfriendly sentiment to-
ward our nation, that ever found expression in Great Britain.
Jefferson Davis said. "Next to the destruction of the Confederacy the
death of Abraham Lincoln was the darkest day the South has ever known."
An
Evening?With Lil\COllTl
Do not fail to
Hear this dis-
course on His
life and ser-
vices as ren-
dered by His
friend and
*P associate >P
Maj. J. B. Merwin
Of St. Louis
AT
It is unquestionably true that no man at present alive knew Abraham
Lincoln more intimately than did Major Merwin. Those who fail of the
opportunity of hearing him on this occasion will probably never again be
privileged to listen to such a broad minded discourse by one who was so
long in such close touch with the martyred President.
EVERY PATRIOTIC CITIZEN
Young and Old Should Hear This Address
The Lecture will Positively be given -whether the
weather is favorable or not, as the time
of speaKer is limited
N. B. — Lecture Committees desiring to arrange dates for this lecture
address
?
An Evening With
Abraham Lincoln
THE LIFE OF LINCOLN, the record of his glorious deeds is a
trumpet call to higher .deals and nobler Americanism, typifying as it
does, his almost Divine nature as a man, his patriotism as a leader, his
far-reaching wisdom as a ruler.
Those who lived in the anxious time of his administration will feel their
blood tingle anew as they listen to the story of his deeds- a story that
will live forever. It will bring back to them the memory of the tented camp
field— the fife and the drum— brother arrayed against brother. I he hope.
the suspense, the fear that prevailed as the battle went one way or the other.
The elonous anthem of peace that went up as the struggle was ended. I he
wave of horror and indignation that swept oer the land east, west, north
and south, at news of his assassination. Major J. B Merwin is peculiarly
fitted to speak of Abraham Lincoln, for he was his personal friend and asso-
ciate in the days before he was chosen to lead the people. During his
administration Major Merwm was the trusted friend of the martyred rVes.-
dent and as such has a fund of memories intensely interesting, showing the
character and giving an insight into the motives that prompted this great
American citizen, Abraham Lincoln.
By some Major Merwin's discourse has been described as a burst or
patriotic eloquence rarely equalled." but it is more than that— ij t is the heart-
felt tribute of one who is living, to a friend who has gone before, recalling
the acts of his life time, the noble deeds he performed.
The Life of Lincoln can be read in books, but they breathe an artificial air.
In listening to Major Merwin you look upon one who was wont to grasp
the great emancipator by the hand-who greeted h.m from day to day -
who knew of his ideals, his hopes, his disappointments— or his faith !
Cold type spread upon inanimate paper fails to awaken your interest or
kindle your memory, rousing you to a higher sense of patriotism or venera-
tion for the illustrious Lincoln, as do the living breathing words of one who
was at his side, and whose mind is stored with priceless memories or our
venerated martyr. As one friend pay.ng tribute to another Ma,or Merwin
tells many interesting facts heretofore unknown to the world at large, and all
in all his discourse is one that should be listened to by every patriotic citizen.
When you have listened to the story of the saviour of our country as told
bv Major Merwin, you will feel that you have cause to thank the Creator
that you are of the same race as Abraham Lincoln. The story of his life
and deeds as told by Maior Merwin is one of enthralling interest, arousing
the patriotism of the listener, young or old, to its highest pitch. An Lvening
with Lincoln is an occasion that should not be missed.
■rpts from Press Notices of Major Merwin's Lecture or.
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln's Study of Shakespeare.
Major J. B. Merwin Tells Students
of University of Rochester,
How Deep It Was.
Lincoln Found Many Parallelisms Between Shakespeare
Plays and the Bible. Shakespeare Wrote as Lincoln
Worked, for the People.
(Special to The Telegram.)
Enthusiastic cheers were heard
in Anderson Hall, University of
Rochester yesterday afternoon
when Major J. B. Merwin, a long-
time close friend of Abraham Lin-
coln, walked to the platform to
give his address on "Lincoln's
Interpretation of Shakespeare.'"
Major Merwin had spoken before
the students but a short time ago
and they greeted him warmly.
Many persons were present, from
outside the University.
"I am indebted to that wise,
great and good man, Mr. Lincoln,
for most of what I have to offer
you to-day," said the speaker.
Mr. Lincoln's occupation of the
executive chair was a triumph of
the good sense of the American
people. * * * * * * * .
They had a middle-class presi-
dent at last. Middle-class in man-
ners only, but not middle-class by
any means in ability. If a man's
power was ever fully tested, his
was.
"In his Gettysburg oration we
see a result of Mr. Lincoln's study
of Shakespeare. Shakespeare, let
us remember,- wrote as Lincoln
worked, for all classes. No other
compilation of words excepting
the Bible contained so much good
advice to the young, as do his
works.
Many think we do not get much
religion out of Shakespeare, but
Mr. Lincoln saw close parallelisms
between Shakespeare and the Bi-
ble. Among humorists, Shakes-
peare was the king. Mr. Lin-
coln's success in disposing of peo-
ple was often due to his keen
sense of humor.
"Shakespeare, said Mr. Lin-
coln^ had ever an unerring moral
sense; a sense of justice,
of what is due to others
a sense of what is kind,
what is polite, of what is proper
under all circumstances. Mr.
Lincoln insisted that no prepara-
tion was needed for the study of
Shakespeare. With the exception
of a good edition with foot notes
to explain obsolete words, no fur-
ther aid was necessary. This is
the way Mr. Lincoln studied him.
Ever)7 jewel of thought, every
beaut)r of sentiment was gathered
in by Lincoln. On hisj words will
the leading minds of. the world
alwa37s be nourished.
He has used a greater number
of words easily understood in pro-
portion to the amount of his writ-
ings than any other author. Here
is another result of Lincoln's
study of the dramatist; No piece
of literature now\xtant contains
so many words of oW syllable as
the Gettysburg speec
"Said Lincoln, wha^ point is
there of morals, of manners, of
econonry, of religion, that Shakes-
peare has not settled; What maid-
en has not found his teaching
something finer than her own
delicac)7? What lover is there
whom Shakespeare has not out-
loved? What sage that he has
not outseen?
"His pla)'s bring more hope to
the common people than any other
writings. Shakespeare predicted
the future. Mr. Lincoln sensed
this, for nothing escaped him.
If all other books were destroyed
excepting the bible and Shakes-
peare the world would still have
the best literature preserved.
Shakespeare's mind was like a sea
to which all others in the world
were as tributaries, and why
should we not drink from this in-
exhaustible fountain, said Mr.
Lincoln. His words teach more
for our use to-da)T than this year's
almanac. If we only understand
how, to get it. You can warm
your hands and your heart both
by the light of his genius. He
is filled with the sap of life. "He
was one of those geniuses God
leaves unbridled," said Mr. Lin-
coln/'that he might dip into the
infinite as far and as deep as he
liked/'' *******
"What can bronze or marble do
for such a man as Shakespeare'Ssf £
He is his own best monument
with England for a pedestal.
(Rochester Democrat and Chroni-
cle.)
/
LINCOLN DAY
1
AT THE
Chautauqua Sent
MAJORJ.B.MERWIN
OF CONNECTICUT '
PERSONAL FRIEND AND COMPANION OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Will tell with authority Lincolns exact position on the Liquor
Question. Major Merwin stumped the state with Lincoln for
Prohibition in 1855.
Lieut. Gen. Winfield Scott, U. S. A., said of him: "A man
of such force and moral power to inspire courage, patriotism,
faith and obedience among the troops is worth more than a half
dozen regiments of raw recruits."
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It will be a matter of interest to many, North as well as South, to know that
Mr. Lincoln had looked very favorably upon a proposal that had been made for
the excavation and completion of the Panama Canal by means of the labor of
the freedmen. Those close to the President at the time were aware of the fact
that he favored the plan and it was for the purpose of securing the views of
Horace Greeley, of the New York Tribune, and other moulders of public thought,
to the plan, that he called Major Merwin to the White House on the fatal Friday,
April 14, 1865, the day that he was assassinated. After the President had ex-
plained this matter freely, to Mr. Merwin, recalling again those stirring
,times ten years before, when he had campaigned in Illinois with him he saidr*
f" AFTER RECONSTRUCTION THE NEXT GREAT QUESTION WILL BE THE.,
OVERTHROW OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC." That evening Mr. Merwif
was on his way to New York, and the following morning as he stepped from
the train in that city he heard the terrible news of the assassination, at Ford's
Theatre, the night before. It is unquestionably true that no man alive knew
Mr. Lincoln in his public or private life more intimately than did Major Merwin.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S MILITARY ORDER
"The Surgeon General will send Mr. Merwin wherever he thinks the public
service may require."
June 24, 1862.
A. LINCOLN.
%'jfr-
y'
PRESS COMMENTS
would seem absolutely superfluous. Major Merwin carries warm words of appreciation bear-
ing the names of Charles Sumner, Richard Yates, who was the War Governor of Illinois;
Lyman Trumbull, Henry Wilson, Austin Blair, David Willmot, famous as the author of the
Willmot Proviso, and over a hundred others, including governor, senators, congressmen, gen-
erals, soldiers and prominent men of the time. Nevertheless we append a few of the many.
ST. LOUIS TRUTH— Major Merwin's lecture tours have won for him laurels as one of our most
brilliant orators— of more than national note.
DAILY EAGLE (WICHITA)— On the platform he is a very king among literary and thinking
men.
BOSTON DAILY ADVERTISER— The lecture and speaker will be remembered by all present
with unmixed pleasure and profit.
THE NATION (BOSTON)— His oration has never been excelled for eloquence and power.
MISCELLANEOUS— "The most brilliant and complete analysis of Lincoln's career and char-
acter ever given." "Commanded the closest attention and thrilled the hearts of all."
"Able— eloquent." "Forceful, graphic, eloquent." "Seldom, if ever have an audience
been thrilled with such eloquence and power." "Attracts, charms, rivets attention, car-
ries conviction." "His humor convulses, his imagery electrifies, his reasoning is bril-
liant." "Received with the greatest enthusiasm." "A brilliant and popular orator."
"His hearers were held enthralled from the opening to the closing sentence." "At the
close the orator was given a veritable ovation." "A brilliant orator and a man of large
experience and ripe scholarship"
ADDRESS, (for the present)
J.B.MERWIN,
Middlefield, Conn.
. . . .
Another Lecture.
"Major J. B. Merwin, of St. Louis, for
thirty years editor of the "American Joubnal
oi Education," will give his lecture "An
Evening with .Shakespeare," in the baptist
Church, at Jacksonville, 111., Friday Even-
ing, 2;">th inst.
This promises to be the best lecture ever
delivered in our city. Major Merwin has
given this lecture iu many of the leading cit-
ies of the country, including Boston, New
York, Chicago, St. Louis, and the leading
intervening cities to crowded houses. Ex-
tracts from several of the leading journals of
the country of its wisdom, pathos, wit and elo-
quence, were furnished in the city dailies of
last week.
Major Merwin is no stranger on the lecture
platform, but is known to many of our lead-
ing citizens as a man of ripe scholarship, a
profound thinker, a brilliant and popular
orator. No man has done more for the cause
of popular education in the West and South-
west than he. At all times he has been a
leader in the progress and improvement in
our best educational facilities; nor has he
neglected an opportunity for enriching his
own mind with the best literature of the world.
He owns one of the largest and best selected
private libraries in the west.
The great dramatist Shakespeare, has been
his favorite study for more than a quarter of
a century aud he brings to us the largest and
ripest result of this study in the lecture of the
evening. He will show us more of the beauty,
strength and power of Shakespeare in this
lecture than we could get in a month's contin-
uous reading.
No lover of poetry, learning or literature can
well afford to miss this rare treat."
/?
Repertoire of Topics
An Evening with Abraham Lincoln
2. An Evening with Shakespeare
3- An Evening with Emerson
4. An Evening with Holmes
5. An Evening with Whittier
6. International Peace
7. The New Era in Education
8. Curiosity
9. Shakespeare's Estimate of Woman
10. What of it?
11. The Keys of Power
12. American Citizenship
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Seldom is a J oh 11st own aud'ience
privileged to listen to as able a plat-
form speaker as Major J. B. Merwin
of Middled eld, Conn., who addressed a
representative audience at the Grand
opera house in this city last evening.
Major Merwin possesses all of the
qualifications of a public speaker and
in his subject "Abraham Lincoln,'' he
(without doubt appears at 'bis best. It
is a rare privilege in these days to
meet and listen to a man who had
been the bosoni friend and confi-
dential adviser of the chief executive
of the United States a generation ago,
but such is the case with Major Mer-
win. As was anticipated, his lecture
upon the life of fhe martyr-president
was fully up to the highest expecta-
tions. Although well along in years,
and with the hoary locks of time dis-
tinguishable, Major Merwin goes into
his talk with vivacity and interest of
a young man.
The lecture last evening was under
the auspices of McMarfin post, No.
257, G-. A. R. The members of the
post, Woman's Relief corps, Ladies of
the G. A. " R., members of the common
council, water board, clergy, and
board of education, occupied seats up-
on the stage, while the members' of the
D. A. R. were present among the au-
dience.
Another Lecture.
"Major J. B. Merwin, of St. Louis, for
thirty years editor of the "American Journal
OV Education," will give his lecture "An
Evening with Shakespeare," in the Baptist
Church, at Jacksonville, 111., Friday Even-
ing, 2oth inst.
This promises to be the best lecture ever
delivered in our city. Major Merwin has
given this lecture in many of the leading cit-
ies of the country, including Boston, New
York, Chicago, St. Louis, and the leading
intervening cities to crowded houses. Ex-
tracts from several of the leading journals of
the country of its wisdom, pathos, wit and elo-
quence, were furnished in the city dailies of
last week.
Major Merwin is no stranger on the lecture
platform, but is known to many of our lead-
ing citizens as a man of ripe scholarship, a
profound thinker, a brilliant and popular
orator. No man has done more for the cause
of popular education in the West and South-
west than he. At all times he has been a
leader in the progress aud improvement in
our best educational facilities; nor has he
neglected an opportunity for enriching his
own mind with the best literature of the world.
He owns one_pf the largest and best selflcfod . \S
private libraries in the west.
The great dramatist Shakespeare, has been
his favorite study for more than a quarter of
a century and he brings to us the largest and
ripest result of this study in the lecture of the
evening. He will show us more of the beauty,
strength and power of Shakespeare in this
lecture than we could get in a month's contin-
uous reading.
No lover of poetry, learning or literature can
well afford to miss this rare treat."
The stage was decorated in patrtotSc
colore. Hi" American flag- predominat-
ing, and made a pretty effect. Large
were draped on either side an:l
in the rear while in front, at the speak-
er's taMe, a finely frnm'ed picture of
Abraham Lincoln graced fho flag
which hUllg in folds over ttie table.
Among Hi.' Bags were many carried in
battle.
Commander John Karg of MoMartm
po.-i presided. The program opened
with a selection by a quartette com-
posed Of Messrs. fiaker. Sands. Clem-
ents and Delta after which Rev. B. L<\
Livingston offered prayer. The au-
dience then arose anil SB>ng "America"
and at i he conclusion of the lecture
the quartette rendered Tenting on
the Old Camn Cround. Commander
Karg Introduced Major Merwin in :■
brief and appropriate speech referring
tO Ihe war days and the speaker who
was to follow him.
elity M
ia.
Mr. Merwin said:
, round Mr. Lincoln to i
with a ts
uiner fuller acquaintance, a man ab-
.„,uteiv without conceit. He neither ,on an
fancied himseli a philosopher nor a
s,„n a modest man. engaged In tht
common duties of life, always equal lo
tte occasion, but as the occasion grew, j Con
• ■ t sense and a great fertility ol re-
,c.es developed.- n serious ,
BOlU'i
,ion to the cause of his country
„,.,,.,- swerved— a hope and a Luitb
/?
Repertoire of Topics
1. An Evening with Abraham Lincoln
2. An Evening with Shakespeare
3. An livening with Emerson
4. An Evening with Holmes
5. An Evening with Whittier
6. International Peace
7. The New Era in Education
8. Curiosity
9. Shakespeare's Estimate of Woman
10. What of it?
" 11. The Keys of Power
12. American Citizenship
Mat never- waiveriS — never failed.
To all this., was added a growing -wis-
dom— an integrity* absolutely * incor-
ruotible. and an ability that always g-
rose to the need. The face of Mr. Lin-
coln, told the story, of hiis life — a life
of sorrow and struggle and deep seat- jiy
ed sadness — a life of ceaseless endea-ful
vor to find the right, the true way. It rid
jhe
-J
would have .taken no Lahvahiter to in-
terpret the rugged energy, stamped on
tthat uncomely, swarthy, plebian coun-L.
tenance — with its great, orag-Hkelr-
brow, and large bones, or to read, t'liel0^
deep melancholy that overshadowed^
every feature of it. But beneath this Lr
ungainly, rough exterior — he wore a he
golden heart. Abraham Lincoln stand she
for today, and worked, for. while he|r~
M\ed, the people of all kinds, and in
all places, more, than any other |
"statesman" of any period in our his-
tory, as 'a government. He was the
most sympathetic, and a mind and
character of the deepest charity, for all
classes.
. Lowell, you remember, 'the great
poet, spoke of him as "sagacious, pa-1d
ticnt. dreading praise, not blame!
morally — more than thvvt — spiritually
■ — in other words, in attributes of
heart, his greatness was preeminent,
•vr.ne of our great men if we realized
it— -meant SO much to our hearts, or
did s<» much for the "common people'!
as Mr. Lincoln. Tor none of our great
men is the love of lhe people so cor-
dial and so warm. In none other aiv
nother Lecture.
lajor J. B. Merwin, of St. Louis, for
thirty years editor of the "American Journal
of Education," will give his lecture "An
Evening with Shakespeare," in the Baptist
Church, at Jacksonville, 111., Friday Even-
ing, 2">th inst.
This promises to he the best lecture ever
delivered in our city. Major Merwin has
given this lecture in many of the leading cit-
ies of the country, including Boston, New
York, Chicago, St. Louis, and the leading
intervening cities to crowded houses. Ex-
tracts from several of the leading journals of
the country of its wisdom, pathos, wit and elo-
quence, were furnished in the city dailies of
last week.
Major Merwin is no stranger on the lecture
platform, but is known to many of our lead-
ing citizens as a man of ripe scholarship, a
profound thinker, a brilliant and popular
orator. No mau has done more for the cause
of popular education in the West and South-
west than he. At all times he has been a
leader in the progress and improvement in
our best educational facilities; nor has he
neglected an opportunity for enriching his
own mind with the best literature of the world.
He owns one of the largest and best selected
private libraries in the west.
The great dramatist Shakespeare, has been
his favorite study for more than a quarter of
a century and he brings to us the largest and
ripest result of this study in the lecture of the
evening. He will show us more of the beauty,
strength and power of Shakespeare in this
lecture than we could get in a month's contin-
uous reading.
No lover of poetry, learning or literature can
well afford to miss this rare treat."
\
Pound so many qualities which can
serve us, in our daily life, if we lay
well to heart his teaching and ex-
ample.
What Lincoln would have done is a
constant inquiry coming to me on ev-
ery hand. There was in him that per-
fect combination of humility, honesty
and strength. No pride, no arrogance,
none even of what ni'ost people call
lit..- 1
until
em 'I
self respect— nothing done for sihow,
or lor what other people would say or
,i„ „,■ tfliinl? or him: Great charity for
other.-
under all circumstances: was 0
natural sister to his huni'ility.
ntly
sibil
get
lent
»ada
e ad
nts
.vine
on
ties i
fen i
once beginning to show the versa';
tility of Mr. Lincoln, it is difficult to
pause. To appreciate his worls wo
must go into elose study of his char-
acter to gert at his motives. All to?
sight and application of these higher
political truths seem a sort of aceusa- i , ■.
lion, -before the public mind rises, to j
their level-but as these higher faetll- j .
ties become developed. Lincoln's name;
and fame rises and his worU will be ^ ^
better appreciated.
All prophetic revelation sit a minors, ' ^
as it passes human lips. It reaches US ^J.
in fragments, leaving gaps difficult to
till but evermore ennobling and Inspir-
|ing. Today we think of Lincoln as the
English people think of their .blame-
less ivlng Arthur, who. "Throughout
litis tract Of years, wore the White
flower of a blameless life."
S3
Repertoire of Topics
AnEvcningvvith Abraham Lincoln
2. An Evening with Shakespeare
3. An Evening with Emerson
4. An Evening with Holmes
5. An Evening with Whittier
6. International Peace
7. The New Era in Education
8. Curiosity
9. Shakespeare's Estimate of Woman
10. What of it?
11. The Keys of Power
12. American Citizenship
Lincoln could be eloquent if he
would — >we remember the close of his
OhLo letter to the voters' of that state
■nce in explanation of his dealings with
Vallindingham.
Mir. Lincoln said: "Peace does not
seem so distant as it did. I hope it
will come soon, and come to stay, and
it Amenc t0 so COme as to be worth keeping. It
to aband wjjj ^hen have beeii proved that among
ade. He free ,men .there can be no successful
itest scie appeal from the ballot to the bullet.
: shows tl and that they who take sxieh appeal
successioi are sure to lose their case and pay the
at these costs. And then there will appear
ion of th some blaick men who can remember
tions bet that with silent tongue and clenched
ment. Ii teeth and steady eye and 'well poised
the othei bayonet, they have helped mankind on
ie opport to this great consummation — while I
of learn fear that there will he some white
fiment q men unable to forget 'that with malig-
a cultij mint heart and deceitful speech they
hove' striven to hinder it."
It has been truly said by those fully
competent to judge, that Mir. Lincoln
came to the point, where he surpassed
all orators in eloquence, all diplomats
fades of
, betweei
■try and
a is in :
'lartmen
is now
. those
rand exi
We do not say much about it, it is
not necessary, but there were occa-
sions when Mr. Lincoln came to be in
his administration of the government,
greater than law — when his wisdom
was greater than the combined wis-
dom of all the people.
Another Lecture.
"Major J. B. Merwin, of St. Louis, for
thirty years editor of the "A m ekioan Joijhn a l
of Education," will give his lecture "An
Evening with Shakespeare," in the Baptist
Church, at Jacksonville, 111., Friday Even-
ing, 2')th inst.
This promises to be the best lecture ever
delivered in our city. Major Merwin has
given this lecture in many of the leading cit-
ies of the country, including Boston, New
York, Chicago, St. Louis, and the leading
intervening cities to crowded houses. F.x
tracts from several of the leading journals of
the country of its wisdom, pathos, wit and elo-
quence, were furnished in the city dailies of
last week.
Major Merwin is no stranger on the lecture
platform, but is known to many of our lead-
ing citizens as a man of ripe scholarship, a
profound thinker, a brilliant and popular
orator. No man has done more for the cause
of popular education in the West and South-
west than he. At all times he has been a
leader in the progress and improvement in
our best educational facilities; nor has he
neglected an opportunity for enriching his
own mind with thebest literature of the world.
He owns one of the largest and best selected
private libraries in the west.
The great dramatist Shakespeare, has been
his favorite study for more than a quarter of
a century and he brings to us the largest and
ripest result of this study in the lecture of the
evening. He will show us more of the beauty,
strength and power of Shakespeare in this
lecture than we could get in a month's contin-
uous reading.
No lover of poetry, learning or literature can
well afford to miss this rare treat."
X
\
Temple, the lawmakers, had nev:
er before to the expertenceof^e gov-
i( come tflce to face Wltta a»RG«|
€.imiUtions and situation tbart eontront-.ORG.
eil him. ' lh'
Ltacoln was as great as necWy.
Mia onr safety lay ft «M faet-that he ;sting v
„ W as just as ho was great, ami as jdern li
wise as he was just. • Mjcl t.
Gvea| is ,!1W. hut greater lS neceS- fated o
sit V
U\vastbis and .ihisonh -the latent
bat omnipotent power of character.
Vbraham LtaCOlll had every virtue.
evm courage, every heroism, every
fili(i; anfl every holiness. He did the
newsi
ers. 1
ions fi
es a ni
each c
uppose;
jiows tl
aim cvci.,i "« Iced ot
,,,,,,, tnai won him both fame ami m- tic res,
utility: Ho -n.. to pulHie.il
All!eriea. her urea.ness. You MOW
llrl, Mr. Lincoln eliaaiged the status ol
millions of American eitixens--
^u.gedahelaw.d-thenauon-.H I •
gal (ribunals-the decisions od thi
m\**l courts he reversed. It ™J
Vbraham Lincoln who draped tak I
.ountvVs shoulders with ttie purple
, rf euui-y ,, jus,!.-, Wh..n « ft
, :„an is a ..lory OH the bWW -. &
Lion, the people who M ** —-
nl«e this fact excite the ama.emen, o1
, ,;„„, „u. anxious days and ni,tus;m,
of what the people ealled Mr. Lin-
v,mrs -ex.treme moderation.
no „;iato he ami eh„se,o be str,e.-
h U1V eXecutlve of the-'best and sanest
I
Repertoire of Topics
/-"fTAn Evcningwith Abraham Lincoln
2. An Evening with Shakespeare
3- An Evening with Emerson
4. An Evening with Holmes
5. An Evening with Whittier
6. International Peace
7. The New Era in Education
8. Curiosity
;. 9. Shakespeare's Estimate of Woman
10. What of it?
11. The Keys of Power
12. American Citizenship
-
/?
E timel
professi
lesident
as branc
ry to tl
ological
sary or ■
that at :
"tant am'
of the r
mismana
inies, th'
n a pro'!
ded and
ng the b
irance
ersities
FUMBE
establis
oung m
is devo(
n insur
extent
"sities s;
sions ar
ig, and
ered in
irefully
irance,
in order
subject,
s for ci
public sentiment of the country — wait-
ing only until it should be unmistak-
ably pronounced'
.So fair in mind that none ever list-
ened so patiently to such extreme va-
riations of opinions; — so reticent that
his final decisions stand — stand solid —
that the people 'have come to know the
capacity and virtue which the Divine
Providence made him an instrument
of benefits so vast.
Mr. Lincoln did more for America
th;Mi any ofther American. When it
finally came home to the consciousness
of the American people — that the war
we were waging was a war for the
liberty of a^ll nations — all peoples of
the world — for the principle of free-
dom itself — 'they thanked God for giv-
ing them strength to endure the ^cost
and severity of the trial to which he
had put their sincerity, and nerved
themselves for their duty with an in-
exorable will
President Lincoln himself was led
along in answer to prayer, led by this
self sacrificing example 'of- the people
— led-— as a child in a "dark night on a
rugged way catches bold of the hand
of its fatlher for guidance and support
so he clung fast to the. hand of God,
to the hands of the people, and moved
calmly on with a faife that never
waned through the gloom, the treach-
ery, and the disasters which were mul-
tiplied by this treachery.
Another Lecture.
"Major J. B. Merwin, of St. Louis, for
thirty years editor of the "American Journal
of Education," will give his lecture "An
Evening with Shakespeare, " in the Baptist
Church, at Jacksonville, 111., Friday Even-
ing, 2oth inst.
This promises to be the best lecture ever
delivered in our city. Major Merwin has
given this lecture in many of the leading cit-
ies of the country, including Boston, New
York, Chicago, St. Louis, and the leading
intervening cities to crowded houses. Ex-
tracts from several of the leading journals of
the country of its wisdom, pathos, wit and elo-
quence, were furnished in the city dailies of
last week.
Major Merwin is no stranger on the lecture
platform, but is known to many of our lead-
ing citizens as a man of ripe scholarship, a
profound thinker, a brilliant and popular
orator. No man has done more for the cause
of popular education in the West and Houth-
west than he. At all times he has been a
leader in the progress aud improvement in
our best educational facilities; nor has he
neglected an opportunity for enriching his
own mind with the best literature of the world.
He owns
private li
one of the largest an
d best selected . V""
it; great dramatist Shakespeare, has been
his favorite study for more than a quarter of
a century and he brings to us the largest and
ripest result of this study in the lecture of the
evening. He will show us more of the beauty,
strength and power of Shakespeare in this
lecture than we could get in a month's contin-
uous reading.
No lover of poetry, learning or literature can
well afford to miss this rare treat."
\
It was Mr. tlncoln who said. "Those
soldiers who wont through those
dreadful fields of battle, blood aud
death— and returned not— deserve
much more than all the honors we can
pay.
"But let us remember always—
tihose who went through rue same
fields and returned alive, put just as
much at hazard as those who died,
and in other countries would wear dis-
tinctive badges of honor as long as
they lived."
And in closing his second inaugural
you remember Mr. Lincoln said.
. PEP
sistant P
istry, An
a1
uiuth Co
per cot
. qualiti
special
tiative ;
vou remember Mr. uinpwm Httlu- "" tecnnic-
usc , are for him who shall have borne ^ ^^
the battle-nand fa* his widow and his 1 ^^
Orphan- to do all whidh may achieve • ^
and cherish a just and lasting peace P ^^
among ourselves and with all nations."- \
...,l.i./^' >^» iivaum^b lire iXJiiin
in such institutions as the Tuck School,
training into different groups, according
careers to be followed by the students
While not approving of what he calls
in college, he believes that the ordina
tion should be supplemented in such a
it practical.
/?
Repertoire of Topics
1. An Evening with Abraham Lincoln
2. An Evening with Shakespeare
3. An Evening with Emerson
4. An Evening with Holmes
5. An Evening with Whittier
6. International Peace
7. The New Era in Education
8. Curiosity
9. Shakespeare's Estimate of Woman
r
10. What of it?
11. The Keys of Power
12. American Citizenship
a Coll
oadW
COU
varioi
As was expected the lecture on
Abraham Lincoln, given at the Grand
opera house, last evening by his close
personal friend and associate, Major
J. B. Merwin of Middlefkld, Conn., was
of thrilling interest.
which
ofessi
>yster
anagt
He
wou!
y co:
nd c
ia/
cts a
UT
ddre
sue
; to
sent
n tr
vithi
ach
e, a<
:duc
■rid
asj
th
It is a rare privilege these days to
teres meet a man who knew intimately the
,F ,' principal national figures of a genera-
tion ago, and when such a one is
talented and brings the powers of a
trained and observant mind to the dis-
cussion of the men and events that
made all this nation free, the pri.-ilege
is still more to be enjoyed.
The members of McMartin post had
worked hard to make Major Merwin 's
visit to the city a pleasant one, and his
reception was a fine one.
The opera house stage was beauti-
fully festooned with flags, while the
colors that are in the possession of the
post and were carried on many a
southern battle field were also on ex-
hibition.
The centre of the stage was graced
by a beautiful picture of Lincoln.
Many old soldiers and members of the
Woman's Relief corps, and J. J. Bu-
chanan circle, L. G. A. R . f r ckke clergy
of the city occupied seats on the plat-
form, beside the mayor and aldermen, ,f
tatic representatives of the board of educa
tion and water board.
Another Lecture.
"Major J. H. Merwin, of St. Louis, for
thirty years editor of the "American Journal
op Education," will give his lecture "An
Evening with Shakespeare," in the Baptist
Church, at Jacksonville, 111., Friday Even-
ing, 2')th iust.
This promises to be the best lecture ever
delivered in our city. Major Merwin has
given this lecture in many of the leading cit-
ies of the country, including Boston, New
York, Chicago, St. Louis, and the leading
intervening cities to crowded houses. Ex-
tracts from several of the leading journals of
the country of its wisdom, pathos, wit and elo-
quence, were furnished in the city dailies of
last week.
Major Merwin is no stranger on the lecture
platform, but is known to many of our lead-
ing citizens as a man of ripe scholarship, a
profound thinker, a brilliant and popular
orator. No mau has done more for the cause
of popular education in the West and South-
west than he. At all times he has been a
leader in the progress and improvement in
our best educational facilities; nor has he
neglected an opportunity for enriching his
own mind with the best literature of the world.
He owns one of the largest and best selected
private libraries in the west.
The great dramatist Shakespeare, has been
his favorite study for more than a quarter of
a century and he brings to us the largest and
ripest result of this study in the lecture of the
evening. H e will show us more of the beauty,
strength and power of Shakespeare in this
lecture than we could get in a month's contin-
uous reading.
No lover of poetry, learning or literature can
well afford to miss this rare treat."
Repertoire of Topics
/^tTAn Eveningwith Abraham Lincoln
2. An Evening with Shakespeare
3. An Evening with Emerson
4. An Evening with Holmes
5. An Evening with Whittier
6. International Peace
7. The New Era in Education
8. Curiosity
/^ 9. Shakespeare's Estimate of Woman
10. What of it?
11. The Keys of Power
12. American Citizenship
/?
HEI\
enry C
Bank
N.
nighoi
h as
; need
cornn
need i
busii
juch
Commander John Karg of McManin
post presided.
A quartette composed of Messrs-
Clements, Baker, Sands and Colin
rend red a beautiful vocal selection,
afcer which the Rev. B. F. Livingston
offered prayer. The audience then
arose and sang "America" and after the
lecture the quartette rendered another
song, "Tenting on the Old Camp
Ground. "
In introducing the speaker Com-
mander Karg referred to the stirring
days of the war, and paid a fitting trib-
ute to the men who fought its battles.
Major Merwin held the close attention )n'v '
of his audience to the end, his descrip- egimc
tions of those stirring days and the road
pictures which lie drew of the Great Jur b
Emancipator being very realistic.
President Lincoln's letter to General ed.
Joseph Hooker, appointing him the ess i
successor of General Burnside, as n inc
commander of the Army of the Poto-
mac, is one of Lincoln's most character-
istic utterances — it somewhat aston-
ished the soldiers and officers present
by its frankness and fullness of state
ment as did Beecher's account of his
visit to President Lincoln in 1854,
This evening Major Merwin will de-
liver his lecture at St. James Lutheran
church in Glnversville, and doubtless
will be greeted by a large audience,
[Motning Herald \
eret
tided
dene-'
y
DS LINCOLN} TEARS FLOW.
J. B. Mcrwiii'K Oration on
Friend Moves Auditors.
Mayvllle, N. D., Special, July 10.— The
people who gathered by thousands In the
beautiful grove of native trees from all
parts of North Dakota, near Mayville
and Hatton, to celebrate Independence
clay were greatly and deeply interested
in the several addresses made on the
occasion.
Hon. B. F. Spalding of Fargo, ex-mem-
ber of congress, made a telling address
of absorbing interest, on the problems of
the day.
-The committee in chnrge had Mooed
from the Minnesota state prohibition
committee the services, of MaJ. J. a.
Merwin, the early and long-time frierid of
■Abraham Lincoln. People came over-
land a hundred miles by private convey-
ance to hear the thrilling story of t"
life of Lincoln from the lips of the man
who knew him, worked, and walked in
life with him, loved him— the plain, home-
ly, humble man that all Christendom
loves and honors to-day.
Tears ran down the bronzed, wrinkled
faces of gray-haired men and women,
as they listened to the pathetic, thrilling
story of the poor boy struggling up
through poverty, adversity and trial to
the highest position in the nation.
Rev. Walter L. Ferris, D. D., writes as
follows:
"Mr. Merwin gave the people much of
Important personal history of Mr. Lin-
coln, which they had never heard. It was
a refreshing revelation, a real uplift to
all who were fortunate enough to hear
him. The speaker had been in a cam-
paign for prohibition with the great Lin-
coln, in the fifties, and knew whereof
he spoke. MaJ. Merwin is himself a mag-
nificent orator, a noble character, a great
man. I wish this address might be heard
by all the young men in the land."
J
tin:
Another Lecture.
"Major J. B. Merwin, of St. Louis, for
thirty years editor of the "American Journal
of Education," will give his lecture "An
Evening with Shakespeare," in the Baptist
Church, at Jacksonville, 111., Friday Even-
ing, 25th hint.
This promises to be the best lecture ever
delivered in our city. Major Merwin lias
given this lecture in many of the leading cit-
ies of the country, including Boston, New
York, Chicago, St. Louis, and the leading
intervening cities to crowded houses. Ex-
tracts from several of the leading journals of
the country of its wisdom, pathos, wit and elo-
quence, were furnished in the city dailies of
last week.
Major Merwin is no stranger on the lecture
platform, but is known to many of our lead-
ing citizens as a man of ripe scholarship, a
profound thinker, a brilliant and popular
orator. No man has done more for the cause
of popular education in the West and South-
west than he. At all times he has beeu a
leader in the progress and improvement in
our best educational facilities; nor has he
neglected an opportunity for enriching his
own mind with the best literature of the world,
fie owns one of the largest and best selected
private libraries in tho west.
The great dramatist Shakespeare, has been
his favorite study for more than a quarter of
a century and he brings to us the largest and
"ipest result of this study in the lecture of the
jvening. He will show us more of the beauty,
drength and power of Shakespeare in this
ecture than we could get in a month's coutiu-
tous reading.
No lover of poetry, learning or literature can
fell afford to miss this rare treat."
/3
Repertoire of Topics
An Evening with Abraham Lincoln
2. An Evening with Shakespeare
3- An Evening with Emerson
4. An Evening with Holmes
5. An Evening with Whittier
6. International Peace
7. The New Era in Education
8. Curiosity
9. Shakespeare's Estimate of Woman
10. What of it?
11. The Keys of Power
12. American Citizenship
n
M
The people of New England, and
of the whole Country, are in a fair
way to learn something of the real
character and greatness of President
Lincoln from the revelations made
in various addresses by his friend
and associate, Major J. B. Merwin,
of St. Louis.
The Times, Courant, and other
papers of Hartford, gave large space
to a report of Major Merwin's ad-
dress, at the Hartford Opera House,
Sunday afternoon before Lincoln's
birthday.
Members of the Hartford posts of
the Grand Army of the Republic
were given a special invitation to
attend. The veterans entered the
lobby in double file, occupying the
front seats at the center of the or-
chestra circle, reserved for them.
The Times said: '"Lincoln, the
Christian Statesman' was Major
Merwin's subject. From the time
of his first meeting with Lincoln in
.1852, on, tcTthe day of his funeral
the speaker gave a vivid description
of his noble character, using many
items of conversation he had had
with him, together with many an-
acdotes, illustrating in the concrete,
various phases of his great char-
ecter. ' '
# * * * * *
The Courant said: "The Young
(Men's Christian Association had a
\ distinguished guest, at the Hartford
I Opera House yesterday afternoon
in the person of Major J. B. Mer-
win, who spoke on 'Abraham Lin-
coln, the Christian Statesman.'
The first rows of the theatre were
filled with G. A. R. men, who
turned out in force to give Major
Merwin a deserved and hearty wel-
come, and every reference to the
man, whom they had loved so much,
in the trying days of the war, was
hailed with deafening applause."
"The Major certainly had his;
audience with him from the very;
beginning. Major Merwin gave a
varied, close concrete view of Lin-
i coin and his career. He said that
I there had beej^2ojor_more biogra-
phies of Lincoln's life published, all
but one or two of them had missed
the real fundamental basis, of Lin-
coln's greatness that was at the
bottom of it all — his religious side.
He went on to explain his acquaint-
ance with Lincoln, with whom he
was intimately thrown from 1852,
on, until the day of his assassina-
tion in Washington.
Lincoln from his inate, sense of
Justice, always saw conditions,
from the standpoint of the other
man, as well as from his own.
That is what made him so success-
full as a lawyer.
He was always ready for the
arguments of the other side. He
had thought it all out from the
other man's point of view before.
The sagest of philosophers, he
was at times, the most ridiculous of
jesters, the besflnfonEecT man on
political affairs of the nineteenth
century, but above all a Christian
gentleman was Lincoln, realizing
his own dependence on God more
than those less able to wield great
things, when it came to the crises. ,
Major Merwin ended with ablood- \
tingling eulogy for the men of the
G. A. R., who saved to the world
this form of government."
/
"His Thrilling and Beautiful Story;
Chaplain Writes of Major Merwin.
Connecticut Comrades Thrilled by his Story of Abraham Lincoln and
the Days when Men Died for the Flag.
Comrade Fred Meyer of this city
has received the following highly in-
teresting letter from Department Chap-
lain William F. Hilton, of Hartford
Conn., relative to Major J. B. Merwin,
who is to speak in the Grand opera
house tomorrow evening on Abraham
Lincoln
Hartford, Conn,
( >ct. 22, 1007.
My dear Comrade:
Having received a letter from my
friend, Major J. B. Merwin in which
he speaks of your noble purpose in
the effort to secure a monument or
our heroic dead, and I say our dead,
for in a real and true sense we are
of one body — let me extend my most
hearty wish that you may more than
realize your object.
We hear among ourselves, as oft
repeated in the quiet silence of our own
gatherings, "that God may grant that
the memory of the noble dead who freely
gave their lives for the land they
love may dwell ever in our hearts."
This is our own sentiment and ex-
presses that devotion which a patient
and long suffering service engenders,
but the sentiment needs to be carried
further into the life about us and to
become the seed of a new fruitage and
i hat fruitage found in those we are
now among and from among whose
association we ere long must disappear.
The monument must speak for us
even better than the blood of right'
Abel and be a witness to that spirit
which was in them who gave their lives
for the land they loved; a land be-
queathed in peace to those who witi
where the monument stands in whom
must dwell a spirit equally as sacrificing
and suffering.
May the day soon come when the
land shall be filled not only with school
houses in which patriotism is taught;
with churches where patriotism shall
be baptized with the spirit of "the
( hiist" who laid down His life for all
but also our resting places and habita-
tions be beautiful and adorned with
those silent testimonies that reveal a
patriotism that is sanctified.
So I wish you great success in your
undertaking.
I congratulate you in having secured
Major Merwin 's services to thrill the
heart and to make the pulse beat quick
with his beautiful story of our Mart;.
President. If he inspires you as he
did us, there will, I am sure, be started
a current of intense patriotic life in
y-our community that will arouse the
sluggish, awaken the indifferent and
cause the pride to rise in behalf of that
little band who loved not their 1
only to offer them as a sweet-smelling
sacrifice upon the great altar of our
noble land. May the good Lord
prosper you in all good and bless you
with His abounding grace.
Yours fraternally,
WM F. HILTON.
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.Seldom is a Johnstown audience
privileged to listen to as: able a plat-
form speaker as Major J. B. Merwte
of Middlefield. Conn., who addressed a
representative audience at the Grand
opera house in this city last evening-.
Major Merwin possesses all of the
qualifications of a public speaker and
in his subject "Abraham Lincoln," h^
without doubt appears at his best. It
is a rare privilege in these days to
meet and listen to a man who bad
been the bosom friend and confi-
dential adviser of the chief executive
1
of the United States a generation ago,
but such is the case with Major .Mer-
win. As was auticJpaited, his lecture
upon the life of the martyr-president
was fully up to the highest expecta-
tions. Although 'well along in years,
and 'with the hoary Jocks of time dis-
tinguishable. Major Merwin goes into
his talk with 'vivacity and 'interest of
a young man.
The lecture last evening was under
the auspices of McMartin post, No.
257, G. A. R. The members of the
post. Woman's Relief corps, Ladies of,
the G. A. R., members of the common
council, 'water board, clergy, and
board oif education, occupied seats iip-
on the stage, while the members of the
D. A. R. were present among the au-
dience.
The stage was decorated in patriotic
colors, the American flag predominat-
ing, and made a pretty effect. Large
flags were draped on either side and
I in the rear while in front, at the speak-
I er's table, a finely framed picture of
■■ '••"...'If-., 1 ,,■ -r-.v ■' ./,!, HYtKv OfP ,,,,,,.,
Muratam Mnnoin graced ttie Hag
which hung in folds over the table,
j
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el
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)ll
at
fr
exi
Anion- the Bags were m.-mv carried in
battle.
Commander John Karg of McMartfn
post presided. The program opened
""'' ;l selection by a quartette <•<>.„-
posed of Messrs. Baker, Sands, Clem-
ents and OoMn aifter which Rev. B. If.
Livingston offered prayer. The au-
fiiewce then arose and sang "America"
:i,hI :i1 the conclusion of the lectore
,h" quartette rendered Tfentlng „„
ttle ",'1 '''""i" Ground. Ottoimander
Karg Introduced M .i.j..i- Merwin in & ,
1"'i'"1' •''"'' appropriate speech referring I ot,
;" !l"' wai- d;i.vs .in,! ike speaker who f ti
Was bO f'nllnw him'. I
le
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Mr. Merwin said:
1 found Mr. Dincdin to be. with a ja
n|"'1'- ''""<"' acquaintance, ;, man ab- L
■o'ately without conceal He neither |,t
fancied himself a philosopher, nor a
s:lil"- -v modesl man, engaged in the
common duties of life, always equal to
the occasion, but as the occasion grew,
good sense and .-, great fertility of re-
sources developed.— a serious devtf-
''" to hhe cause of his country thatt
never swerved-Mi bope and a r.-.iii,
tjh«1 never walveredV-rnevw Bailed.
To all this, was added a growing vris-
<l(>'iii— an integrity, absolutely inccr-
ruotttrie, a,,,! ail ability that always
"*se I" the need. The face of Mr. Lin-
coln, toui t i,o »tory, of his bife ., m .
of sorrow and struggle ami deep seat-
ed sadness-. -i MSB of ,.,.,s,dess nidea-
ror to had I he right, (he true way. It
would have taken no Lahvauifcer to in-
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terpret the rugged energy, stamped on
libit uncomely, swarthy, plebi.m coun-
tenance—with its great, crag-like
brow, anil large bones, or to read, the
deep melancholy that overshadowed
every feature of it. But beneath this-
ungainly, rough exterior — he wore a
golden heart. Abraham Lincoln stands
for today, and worked for, while he
lived, the people of all kinds, and in
all places, more, than any other
"Statesman" of any period in .our his-
'tory. as a govern menit. He was the
most sympathetic, and a mind and
Charjacter of the deepest charity for all
classes'. N
Lowell, you remember, the great
poet, spoke of him as "sagacious, pa-
tient, dreading praise, not blame,''
morally — more than thv.'t — spiritually
— in other words, in attributes of
heart, his greatness was preeminent.
None of our great men if we realized
it— meant so much to our hearts, or
did so much for the "common people-'
as Mr. Lincoln. For none of our great
men is the. love of the people so cor-
dial and so 'warm. In none other are
found so many qualities which can
serve us, in our daily life, if we lay
well to heart his teaching and ex-
ample.
What Lincoln would have done is a
constant inquiry coming to me on ev-
il ery hand. There was in him that per-
n feet combination of humility, honesty
r( and strength. No pride, no arrogance,
'( none even of what most people call
self respect — nothing done for show,
or for what other people would say or
(Iii or think of him! Gtretrt charity for
others, under all eireuoustauices waft a
naiiiral sifter to his humility.
(•nee beginning to show the versa- :"
tllit.v of Mr. Lincoln, M is dilliciilt to
pause. To appreciate his work we
must go into close study of his char-
acter to gel mi his motives. All in- lie £
sight and application of bhese higher
political truths seem a sort of accusa-
tion. t>efore the public mind rises, to
their level — but as these higher facul-
ties become developed, Lincoln* name
and fame rises and his work will be
bettor appreciated.
All prophetic revelation stammers,
as it passes human lips. It reaches us
in fragments, leaving saps difficult to
fill but evermore ennobling and inspir-
ing. Today we think of Lincoln as the
English people think of their (blame-
less Kiim Arthur, who, "Throughout
ln'is tract of years, wore the white
(tower of a blameless life."
Lincoln could be eloquent if be
would — we remember the close of his
Ohjo letter 'to the voters of that state
in explanation of his dealings with
VaHindinu'ham.
Mr. Lincoln said: "Peace does not
seem- so distant as it did. I hope it
will come soon, and come to stay, and
to so come as to be worth keeping. It i
■will then 'have been proved that among
free men there can be no successful
appeal from the ballot to the bullet,
and that they who take such appeal
are sure to lose their case and pay the
costs. And then there will appear
some black men who can remember
that With silent tongue and clenched
teeth and steady eye and well poised
bayonet, they Ihnve helped mankind on
ion
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let!
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to this great consummation — while I
fear that there will be some white
men unable to forget that with malig-
nant heart and deceitful speech thej
have striven to hinder it."
It has been truly said by those fully
competent to judge, that Mr. Lincoln
came to 'the point, where :he surpassed
all orators in eloquence, all diplomats
in wisdom, all statesmen in foresight:
\\Te do not say much about it, it is
not necessary, but there were occa-
sions when Mr. Lincoln came to be in
his administration of the government,
greater than law — when his wisdom
was greater than the combined wis-
dom of all the people.
The peopie, the lawmakers, had nev
er before in the experience of the gov
eminent come face to face with the
conditions and situation that confront-
ed him.
Lincoln was as great as necessity,
and our safety lay in the fact — that he
was as just as he was great, and as
wise as he was just.
Great is law, but greater is neces-
sity.
It was this and .this only — the latent
but omnipotent power of character.
Abraham Lincoln had every virtue,
every courage, every heroism, every
faith and every holiness. He did the
deed that won him both fame and im-
mortality. He • gave to political
America, her greatness. You know
that Mr. Lincoln changed the status of
millions of American citizens —
changed the law of the nation — the le-
gal tribunals — the decisions of the
highest courts he reversed. It was
to <■
l,nl>
mini
AMKI
hes tl
icand
i
Joal a
,000.0
orate<
d no 1
Ita'a-Lara Lincoln win. draped his
country's shoulders with the purple
robe of eqnity and justice- When such
a man is a glory on the brow <>r the
(l. '"">"• rhe people who 46 no! h co j
iiize Mils fuel exeite the auia^emenil of
i he Mice.
i Icnew the anxious days and nights
Of what the people called Mr. Lin-
eoln'fi "extreme, moderation."
He had id be and ehose to be strict-
ly the executive of the best and sanest
[public semtinieul of the country— wail-
ing onlj until it should be umwistak- sliU"J'
j a'dy pronounced. s °". ^a
So fft'ir in mind thai none ever list- .'''I*'011
enetl so patently to such extreme va- lllll'H'
rlations of o])lulons — so reticent that ° eIVc'
his final decisions stand— stand solid— ^or wo
j thai the people have oomfe to know the u^"s al"
capacity and virtue which the Divine s col,1l)i
providence made him n it instrument
Of benefits so vast.
Mr. 1 iiK-oln did more for America
than any either American. When it
linally came home to the consciousness
d' the American people— 4ha1 the war
■We were waging was a war for the
liberty of all nations— all peoples of
the world— for the principle of free-
dom itself— they Chunked God for glv.
l»g them strength to endure the cs>st
and severit> ol the trial to which he
had put their sincerity, and nerved
themselves for their duty with a.u in-
exorable will.
\
president Lincoln himself was led
a,°»fe In answer to prayer, led by this
sef, sacrificing example of the people
-led—as a child h, a dark naghi on n
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i moii so ne ciun}r f.lst to the hand of God,
uanitt0 the hands of the people, a«d moved
liav'£caimiy on with }l fajtjh that never
I(: waned through the gloom, the treach-
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'?[{ much at hazard as those who died, i
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ern'! tinctive badges of honor as long as ■
con<=tihey Hved," ,
ed i And in closing htis second inaugural ;
^t? f ou a-emeniber Mr. Lincoln said, "Let
a'"d use care for him who shall have borne
the battle. — and for his widow and his
orphan — to do all which: may achieve
and cherish a just 'and lasting peace
among ourselves and with all natioDS."
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AfeO£
EDIENCE TO LAW,
/
Let every American, every lover of liberty,
every well-wisher to his posterity swear by the
blood of the Revolution never to violate in the
least particular the laws of the country, and
never to tolerate their violation by others. As
the patriots of '76 did to the support of the
Declaration of Independence, so to the support
of the Constitution and laws let every American
pledge his life, his property, and his sacred
honor — let every man remember that to violate
the law is to trample on the blood of his father,
and to tear the charter of his own and his chil-
dren's liberty. Let reverence for the laws be
breathed by every American mother to the lisp-
ing babe that prattles on her lap ; let it be taught
in the schools, in seminaries, and in colleges ;
let it be written in primers, spelling books, and
in almanacs ; let it be preached from the pulpit,
proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in
courts of justice. And, in short, let it become
the political religion of the nation; and let the
old and young, the rich and the poor, the grave
and the gay of all sexes and tongues and colors
and conditions, sacrifice unceasingly upon its
altars.
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ICE
LINCOLN MEI
Address fay
~ - « urnilTIU WHO KNEW LINCOLN
MAJOR J. B. MERW1N WMU intimately
MAJOR GENERAL ISAAC S. CATLIN U. S. A. (Retireo)
"BJ Will Preside
Sunday.February 7, 3.30F.M.
SASSSon Hall. 502 F«lton Street
Under Auspices of
CENTRAL Y. M. C. A. and BROOKLYN G. A. R. POSTS
ALL MEN WELCOME
M DAT IONS OF MAJOR J. B
1904
MERWIN, OF ST. LOUIS
jor J. 3 Merwin was brought from St. Loujs to deliver an
address on A Lincoln as a Temperance Reformer, at the
"Lincoln M rvic;," in the Methodist Church., February 14.
The other cnurohes united. Tn3 beautiful auditorium of this
elegant church was crowded, every seat being- taken.> The weather
was very d eeatle. The address made a profound .. sicn upo
people oJ 3ity, and it identified Mr. Lincoln with the
Prohibition R form. Here is what the pastors say about it:
President Charles A. Blanchard, of Wheaton College: "His
address was exceedingly helpful and entirely appropriate to the
day and place. I wish that everyone might have had the opportunity
wh i ch I enj oyed . "
Rev. Wm. Maoafee, D. D., Pastor Cary Memorial Church, Wheaton.
11 1 was much pleased with the address by Major Merwin last Sunday
night. The subject of the lecture, Lincoln's Temperance Views, as
well as the lecturer's relations with the great martyr president
will, when known, assure a hearing with many whom an ordinary
Temperance address would not attract. Besides, the lecture is wel]
worth Hearing on its own merits, I know of no reason why it should
not be appropriate anywhere for a union service on Sunday nigr t. "
Rev. Geo. R. Wood, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Wheaton:
11 1 desire to express my appreciation of the Lincoln Lecture de-
livered by Major Merjyin at our recent union Sunday night service.
To me the lecture was highly instructive and the Seeply
impressive. His settii of . coin's views on temperance
was not only a high oompl t to Lincoln, but- a"*mo1ft valuable
to thecaj ion as well. WTyou on
behalf of myself nnd r otle for the privilege y u afford d us, in
b r i nr i nr M a j . Me r r 1 n t o V on . ■
Rev. Walter L. 7? rris, D. D., Pastor College Congregational
Cnurch, Wheaton: address of Ma j . J. B, Merwin on Abraham
Lincoln as a temperance reformer was peculiarly fitting to the
occasion, I v ional a: ' pi ring in every way. Mr.
Mervir the people much of important history of which they had
never heard. It was a refreshing revelation, a real uplift to all
who were fortunate enough tc hear him. The speaker had been in a
campaign for prohibition with the great Lincoln, in the fifties,
and knew whercof^he spoke. Mr. Merwin is himself a magnificent
orator, a noble character, a great man. I wish this address might
be heard in every city in the land."
x*4
r*
MAJOR MERWIN ADDRESSES"
Speaks at Dinner in Pro-
fessor Mace's Honor
PROFESSOR FLICK PRESIDES
Associate Professor Tanner Also
Speaks==R. S. Spencer and
N. D. Cranmer Represent
Majors on Toast List
O.ie of the most successful affairs of
the season was carried out on Saturday
afternoon, when the faculty, majors
and minors of the historical department
gave a dinner at Sims Hall in honor of
Professor and Mrs. W. H. Mace, who
will leave Syracuse the last of this
month on a years's leave of absence.
The chief purpose of the dinner was
kept a secret until the historicals wr"
seated at the table, and came as a com-
plete surprise to Professor and Mrs.
Mace. There were over eighty whoen-
joyed the delightful occasion. The din-
ing hall was decorated wich flags, bunt-
ing and Syracuse banners, and music
was rendered on the piano while the
dinner was being served. The excellent
menu consisted largely of dishes com-
monly used in the days of Lincoln.
At the close of the dinner Professor'
A. C. Flick, acting as toastmaster, in-l
trodueed Major J, B. Merwin as the
speaker of the afternoon. "We are!
highly honored indeed," said Professor
Flick, "to have with us a man who was
as intimate with Abraham Lincoln as
any American, He was granted admit-
tance at any time to the Union lines
and to the President's study; he was;
entrusted with messages which the|
President would not entrust to his most,
confidential secretaries. You have all
come to appreciate the importance of1
an original document. Major Merwin
is an original document."
Although Major Merwin is 80yearsof
age and slightly infirm, his senses are
stili alert and he speaks with such ease
and precision, yet with such fervor and
earnestness, that he is highly entertain-
ing and even fascinating. His thorough
intimacy not only with Lincoin but with
other men who were then prominent in
governmental affairs, was stamped upon
every sentence which he spoke.
The Major related as if he had just
come from the incidents of the day pre-
ceding Lincoln's visit to Ford's Theater
and his assassination. He told very ef-
fectively the pathetic story of Lincoln's
love for Ann Rutledge, the only woman
that he ever loved in the world, and re-
lated the circumstances leading up to
his unfortunate marriage tc Mary
Todd. I
(J*fi4w~w to, tyiQ,
When Major Merwin saw Mr. Lincoln
for the first time, at Springfield, he de-
clared he was the "most uncouth, un-
kempt, uncombed man" that he had
ever seen. Yet concerning the speech
that he made that day the Major said:
"Never before had I heard from human
lips such pleas of human pathos and
logic, so surcharged was he with ear-
nestness and enthusiasm for the cause
which he was pleading."
"The time came in the administration
of this government," said the speaker,
"when Mr. Lincoln was greater than
all his cabinet, greater than all his gen-
erals, greater than the government,
greater than the law. He was as great
a» necessity; he was as wise as he was
great and as good ai he was wise/'
The Major recalled the arrogant and
even hostile attitude maintained toward
Mr. Lincoln both by Seward, Secretary
of State, and Stanton, Secretary of
War. "Mr. Seward was a good man,"
said he; "he always knew what was
good form. Yet when he had been a
member of the cabinet only two months
he could not understand by what slip of
the cogs God had let this insignificant
man step into the shoes that he was in-
tended to occupy."
Lincoln once insisted that he be al
lowed to read an important letter writ-
ten by Mr. Seward in reference to the
Mason and Slidell affair. "If Mr. Ad-
ams had received that letter just as
Mr. Seward wrote it, "said the speaker,
"we would have been engaged in war
with England. In spite of the deter-
mined hostility of his secretaries, when
Mr. Lincoln said a thing had to be done
it had to be done."
According to the Major, Mr. Lincoln
was in favor of woman suffrage four
years before Susan B. Anthony said a
word about it. "I think that is what
we are coming to," said he; "we can
no longer shut it out. These women
must be prepared for all the duties of
American citizenship. We must have
their co operation and moral influence
before we can ever accomplish much
more/'
Major Merwin here paid an eloquent
tribute to his friend, the martyred pres-
ident. He stated that his name is rev-
erenced not merely because he was an
orator, not because he was the head of
the government during such a critical
period, nor because he was assassinated
while holding this high office, but his
undying name is ascribed to the cour-
age, patience, love and self-sacrifice of
his great heart.
"No man's future," said he "is safer
than that of Lincoln. He identified
himself with the central current of
American life. Within a half century
this rran who was once despised, reviled
and maligned has been transfigured into
a character of marvelous glory and
everlasting fame. Every form of gov-
ernment on the face of the earth ten-
dered its sympathies to the Secretary
of State when Lincoln was assassinated.
He saved to the nations of the world
this government, with the help of the
men who responded to his call. We
ought to exult and be proud for the du-
ties and responsibilities of American
citizenship."
MAJOR MliRWIN IN
CHAPEL THIS MORNING
Major J. B. Merwin, intimate friend
and associate of Abraham Lincoln, will
speak at chapel this morning, 'stu-
dents of the University will probably
never have another opportunity of
hearing a man who was m such a close
relation with this great character in
American history.
LINCOLN AND
PROHIBITION.
(Note. — The following letter is
from Major J. B. Merwin, of Middle-
field, Connecticut, who was intimate-
ly acquainted with President Lincoln.
He points out an, error in our article
on page 10 of the June 19 issue, and
gives the lamented President's exact
words.)
Editor The People, Franklin, Pa.
My Dear Sir: — Abraham Lincoln
made speeches in Illinois in, favor of
the entire Prohibition of the liquor
traffic as carried on in the saloons.
He said over and over again, "Law
is for the protection, conservation
an.d extension of right things — right
conduct — not for the protection of
evil and wrong doing. The Prohibi-
tion of the liquor traffic saves the
whole, and not a part, with a hi^h,
true conservatism through the united
action of all, by all, for all. The
Prohibition of the liquor traffic, ex-
cept for medical and mechanical pur-
poses— thus becomes the new evan-
gel for the safety and redemption of
the people, from the social, political
and moral curse of the saloon and its
inevitable evil consequences of
drunkenness."
Mr. Lincoln said "good citizenship
demands and requires that what is
right should not only be made
known, but be made prevalent: that
what is evil should not only be de-
tected and defeated, hut destroyed.
"The saloon has proved itself to
be the greatest foe, the most blight-
ing curse, of our modern civilization,
and this is the reason why I am a
political Prohibitionist."
Mr. Lincoln said: "We must not
be satisfied un,til the public senti-
ment of this State and the individual
conscience shall be instructed to look
upon the saloon keeper, and the li-j
quor seller, with all the license earth
fan give him, as simply and only a
privileged malefactor — a criminal.
"The real issue in this controver-
sy: the one pressing upon every mind
that gives the subject careful consid-
eration, is that legalizing the manu-
facture, sale and use of intoxicating
liquors as a beverage is wrong — fis
all history and every development of
the traffic proves it to be — a moral,
social and political wrong."
It should be stated distinctly,
squarely and fairly an.d repeated
often, that Mr. Lincoln was not only
a practical total abstinence man;
wrote for it, worked for it, taught it,
both by precept and example, but that
when he found from a long
and varied experience that the
greed and selfishness of the liquor
dealers and the saloon keepers over-
leaped and disregarded all barriers
and every other restraint, taught by
the lessons of experience that noth-
ing short of the entire Prohibition of
the traffic and the saloon would set-
tle the question; he became an
earnest, unflinching Prohibitionist.
Cordially yours,
J. B. MERWIN.
Middlefield, Conn., July 6, 1908.
MAJOR MERWiN'S
FINE LECTURE.
Given to Large Audience
in Town Hail Last
Night.
h, Hi,, town hall lasi nigh! Major
B. Merwin delivered a In
ting lecture on his Inti
friend and associate, the Kreat and
revered martyred president, Abra-
ham Lincoln. The lecture was given
under the auspices of the Middle
County Historical society and Mans-
fteld post No. 53 G. A. K.
The Rev. A. W. Hazen Introduced
the speaker. Mr. Merwin launch. I
I ..in into depicting his subj
in a pleasing and forceful manner
which could not help but touch the
:,, ,,; ,,r every admirer of Mr. Lin-
coln. His opening remarks were:
••Much, as you must realize at. once,
when you come to think of it, de-
pends upon the point of view of the
analyist a8 to wh»at will be said of
both events and character at a time
as exciting and revolutionary as
were the years preceding and cul
minating in the Civil war and its
outcome. One who attempts to define
the acts and motives, or to portray
the scenes which constituted that
drama, must be modest, and hear
along with him every step of the
way a specially careful and judicial
state of mind in order that full jus-
tice and no injustice may be done.
1 1 confess to you I am only equal to
siate conditions and results as I saw
them on the ground. If the facts
led do not tally with your ide?3
and convictions, please do not cen-
bu •■■• me for the facts."
Mr. Merwin throughout the lec-
ture gave a very close inside view
of the national conditions that pre
vailed when Mr. Lincoln was eleel id
president, of the obstacles which he
,was obliged to combat. The jealous
ies among the members <>,
'net that prevailed time were
also treated by 1 im in a clear cut,
expositive manner, in referring to
the opinions of other great men he
said, "It is no longe.r a secret nor
a pari of seoret history thai Lo
Palmerston, Harl Russell and Glad-
stone himself wore determined the
Southern Confederacy should have
recognition; that this form of gov-
ernment recognizing the kingship
of the citizen should be broken up,
destroyed, In the interests of mon-
arch} I-ord Palmerston, clever,
experienced, worldly-wise old man
as he was, would have gone in un-
hesitatingly for the recognition of
the southern confederacy. Earl Rus-
sell declared that we now see in the
new world that which we have often
seen in the old — a war on one side
for empire, and on the other side
'for independence. Mr. Gladstone.
the great Gladstone, was burning
;with zeal, even when official re-
straints ought to have held him si-
lent on behalf of Mr. Davis, and as
he said, 'The new nation which Mr.
Davis has made.' "
Of great interest was the letter
which the speaker received a short
time since from Dr. Levi Jewett of
Cobalt, and read during his lect
Ce spoke about meeting Mr. Mer-
win after the battle of Fredericks-
and discussed other art.
dition . general . eU Id' ";
-lad von are doing so much to
enlighten the public abot
Linro You I11,,st nave a fin?
store of reminiscences and recollec
tions of those stirring times in the
'sixties.' "
The lecture throughout teemed
with interesting factfjwhich Mr. Mer-
win had gathered during the several
rears that he Mid Mr. Lrncoln were
so close to each other.
1 GENERAL lUNlEIIlS
E AFTER BUS! WEEK
PERSONAL FRIEND OF ABRAHAM
LINCOLN AND DINED WITH HIM
ON DAY HE WAS ASSASSI-
NATED.
Maj. J. P.. Merwin. who might justly*
be called the Grand Old Man of Amer-
ica, returned home yesterday. The past
week was a very busy period for Ma-
jor Merwin, for he traveled considera-
bly and delivered twelve addresses in
honor of the centenary of the birth of
Abraham Lincoln in schools, colleges
and churches in New York city,
Brooklyn, Passaic, and other adjacent
towns, to overflowing houses of enthu-
siastic audiences. Sunday, he spoke
in churches in New Haven and Bran-
ford.' Major Merwin said that never
before were there such great general
celebrations in memory of the great
martyr president and emancipator as
there were last week. The celebra-
tions were simply marvelous. Major
Merwin is the only now living man
who was a close personal friend of
Abraham Lincoln. He was closely as-
sociated with him from 1852 up to the
time of his death. On the day of the
assassination, he took dinner and
spent 2Vz hours with him. In the
near future, he will speak on Lincoln,
in one' of ^he churches in Middlefield.
Watch for the announcement of the
date. Major Merwin is a man of ripe
scholarship, a profound thinker, a bril-
liant and popular orator. He was
editor of the "American Journal of Ed-
ucation" for thirty years. He owns
one of the largest and best selected
private libraries in the world. ^J [a
recently celebrated his eight yjbft
birthday at the home of Former "Taeu-
, tenant Governor Lyman A. Mills, at
Middlefield, where he resides.
1
Juno 29, 1010.
Bin^hamton, N.lh
jor J. ! .
Conn.
au ibe: now living whc
Lincoln .. e: nst now be very few. tt n,
I a oi o: the few. I ; ■ '- ": five o*olook ^ ^°^>
on th atal w&4*4sg ■ , . CTashir ~o and .Mrs ^ ^J~ /
Lincoln c; me there in t! — rrii on their g*t— ^-— u_ drive. f f
■ a roo or* two where C wi i feed
him. I : his c U . ' e fHiite ouse, and to
art in tl meral ion.
. e a for; daj s ago :
Doctor H rson?our state Superintendent
t s
)8ire<3 to sec you.
B
was
on and how
ilefi me your letters to
It is of - fc interest to me, since I
ve taken up^Etf prese: bhe A. S. r. which
s ^tnis summer, too ] now that ' w*aar the "Orci
a" only a feV hours afto? '. utterance to yon concern
any in hand after reconstruction £in< .'
"■11 me too ■ la, on that da id
• long you had wit] i ':c-;"orc starting for Philadelphia^
Hew York lcfwh »u] w :' u it lest Cabinet Meeti neldf
ve yoi £kawwledge as to the exact ti i ten Mr, and
-Irs " iaeoln stafcted ffta^iho tite rroase on that drive which
bro i : the . avj
I ■ - our health w ■ I , >u still lect-
; on Abra' i ilnoo] a .
Since dictating the above I have, to v/ho's *' .
A
in America and note with pleasure that von were bora in this
city, You here noi7 have yon not?
;hamton? an will you be visiting
our cit; I wish w t have you lecture ALincola<
'.'hat would it cost us? I an not position now to fplie
an ope pou as I , Lbl; %«feChave done for mos' the
years of my life- See o's Who and the n |
^f r:r two sons. I am b il if there ft ftthei
all : - ! boo: . ^t^
ILL,
ear from you.
or^ "
4/
.J. B# M £ R W I N '3 Letter of July 5tl
This letter was published in Charles T.
White's "Lincoln ^nd prohibition", p. 153.
It was al30 printed by the- nunared by F.J. Slakes -
lee on a mimeograph and circulated largely.
A copy pf this mimeographed letter is on p. 81
of F.D.B's £&o Book, No. 5.
It is also on the following page of this book
as published in the Binshamton, (N.Y.) Republican,
of July 10,1910.
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J&^A
LINCOLN'S LAST
IMPORTANT WORK
BINGHAMTON REPUBLICS
Maj. J. B. Mervin, Former Bing-
hamtonian, Writes od Sublet
Martyred President's Opposition to
legalized Liquor Traffic — General
Ben Butler's Ideas on Building the
Panama Canal .With the Emanci-
pated Slaves of the South i
Dr. F. D. Blakeslee, superintendent
of the Binghamton district of the An-
ti-Saloon League, has just received |
the following letter from J. B. Mer- |
nn, who was born in this city, but j
tvho now resides at Middlerield, Conn.:
"Middlefield, Conn., July 5, 1910.
"My dear Mr. Blakeslee,
Binghamton, N. Y.:
'•I read your letter of June 30 with
interest and pleasure.
"My last interview with the great
ind good Lincoln is a long story, w I
knew him from 1852 on to the day he
was assassinated. Dined with him
that day.
'•The cabinet meeting ended early,
a little before 12 o'clock. I left him
after dinner about 2:30 for New York,
on a special mission to see Horace
CJreely and submit to him a paper Mr.
Lincoln had written. Lee had sur-
rendered. Jefferson Davis was a fu-
gitive. The great heart of President
Lincoln was burdened with the prob-
lem as to how best to dispose of the
180,000 colored troops with arms in
their hands. Major General Ben But-
ler said: 'Mr. President, I can help
vou solve that problem. The terms of
enlistment of these troops will not ex-
pire for a year and a half. As a mili-
tary measure, take them to Panama
md build the canal with them. Make
me a major general, put me in com-
mand and we will take them over and
build and own the canal. As fast as
possible we will take their families;
the climate is about the same as they
are used to; give them some land and
we will dig and own the canal.'
"What does Seward say? What does
or what will Congress say? 'All fa-
vorable.' What will Greely say? He
was more afraid of Greely than of Jef-
ferson Davis.
"I had known Greely well; had been
on several missions to Mr. Greely for
him. 1 could and did go many times
where and when his secretaries could
not go, for they were known.
- "I was not especially known. I was
on General Dix's staff in New York.
Had charge of the. sick and wounded
;oldiers passing to hospitals through
t\e city. He telegraphed General Dix
tcXsend me to Washington by first
tram. I left New York Tuesday night,
reached Washington Wednesday
mornVg. Ten thousand people were
arounc\the White House. I held the
telegran\up. He saw it; said come at
ten tonigiit. It was twelve at night
before heVould get away and lock up.
We worked until three a. m., and then
retired. Thursday night we worked
on the proposition until three a. m.,
and still it didViot quite suit him. Fri-
day was cabinet meeting. He locked
all the doors atYts close and ordered
our dinner brought up. He finished
the paper. We \te dinner and he
read it over. One Ck>er was not lock-
ed. Mrs. Lincoln can\s and said: 'Abe,
the Fords Theater pdople have ten-
dered us a box for thMs eve, and I
have accepted it. The «Jfcjits are go-
ing with us, and inake no other en-
gagement.' Mr. Lincoln said: 'Mary,
I don't think we ought to go to the
theater. Do you remember it is Good
Friday, a religious day with a great
many people, and I don't think we
ought to go to the theater tonights
Mrs. Lincoln said: 'We are going,'
and with that she slammed the door
enough to take it off the hinges. *You
see how it is,' he said. 'We must not
have a scene today.'
"We finished dinner. He read it
over again. He folded up the paper,
handed it to me and said: 'We have
cleaned up a colossal job. We have
abolished slavery. After reconstruc-
tion the next great movement will
be the overthrow of the legalized
liquor traffic, and you know my heart
and my hand, my purse and my life
will be given to that movement.'
"'Mr. Lincoln, shall I make this
public?' I said. 'Yes; publish it as
broad as the daylight.' With that he
shook my hand again and said: 'Stop
over in Philadelphia and see the ed-
itors there.' /p'\1~
"I stopped ove/in Philadelphia,
waited until 12 (/'clock. The editors
did not come. 1/ went to the Conti-
nental hotel, an/l to my room, and
then the news c/ime that Lincoln jiad
In the morning I
been assassinateST
wenT~on-to_'New York, waited two
hours to see Greely, and left the pa-
per with Sidney Gay, brother-in-law
to Greely, and assistant business man-
ager of the Tribune. He gave the pa-
per to Greely, and that was the last of
it It was mislaid; could not be found.
Lincoln had passed on into the eternal
silence and we are not yet recon-
structed.
"But we are doing something to
abolish the legalized liquor traffic. I
am, first, last and all the time a Pro-
hibitionist, as Mr. Lincoln was, but if
I could not prohibit the traffic in all
the territory of the state of New York,,
if I could persuade a town, city or
county to vote it out, I would do that
and be thankful. Mr. Lincoln and I
canvassed the state of Illinois togeth-
er for three or more months in 1855.
Mr. Lincoln drew the law. The Legis-
lature passed it, submitting it to a
vote of the people. We came near —
we did carry it, but Kentucky, Mis-
souri and Wisconsin poured in nearly
20,000 illegal votes in the counties
bordering on those states, and then
with those illegal votes counted beat
us with only a little over 5,000 votes.
Some hard cases voted with us. I
asked Mr. Lincoln if we wanted such
votes. 'Want them? Of course we
do. I have lived here many years. I
have never seen saints marching In
battalions in Illinois yet. First the
blade, then the ear, then the full corn,
etc. Work with any and all who will
help us,' Mr. Lincoln said.
" 'Welcome or«{ ten, ten thousand,'
Lincoln said in his plain, pathetic
way. 'We must meet the traffic in
one of two ways. We must furnish the
recruits to keep up the ever increas-
ing armv of drunkards or we must
take temptation out of the way of the
rising generation. What way do you
prefer to meet the traffic?'
"There was no continued bawl for
money. We raised $2 5,000 in five days
in Chicago. William B. Ogden, presi-
dent of the C. & N..W. R. R., sent for
Mr. Lincoln and said: 'Here is my
check for $2,500. If you need more I
will duplicate it whenever you call.
Others gave $500. A large number of
bankers in Chicago gave $500. So,
now, if the case is plainly stated, as
! Mr. Lincoln put it, the money will
come; all that is needed.
"Yes, I have relatives in Bingham-
ton I used to know well a number
of people in Binghamton. I have not
been there in many years, I kn«y a.
Rev. Edward Taylor, a Congregational
popular preacher, very well. Went to
visit him often.
"I am enclosing President Lin-
coln's 'military order' and endorse-
ment of- Lieutenant General Winfield
Scott. General Scott said: Shall 1
make it an order or a request? Pres-
ident Lincoln said: 'A request wil
do,' and fCdid. do. When genera
Scott was rehired Mr. Lincoln fixed-it
so I could and should go when he
wanted me to go. Perhaps by this
time you are not greatly pleased to
hear from me, and I will stop.
"Most cordially yours,
J. B. MERVIN."
" (Signed)
Zi
j. b. MjjJLiJi-
f7er receiving * copy of the letter
written after rw
says that U ^ ^d *»own that
waB :ha.e P^ted he -U -e .— ,0
me In it.
0 ^/
A7 ^
S^KC^ig
^/^» '^urtet' '
.J. B, MERffIN
July 11, '10.
Proposes to come to my District and give
10 addresses.
Says that he was associated for 20 years
with the late Dr. wm T. Harris, U.S. Commis-
sioner of Education in editing the American jour-
nal of Education.
J&u&Z-
\£^<^z^-
?^>7^^yluJ&±
4l^^^^f 6<S<~*%£.
^c^/si -At s£"^+
s7>£^ z&6*£r 2Z2*x-.
^6 ~6^Z^
/rts*<-
^3-^s^^
^^^--^-ll-«£-^-*-*v_
zs~
.,1or J. 3. Merwln,
.iddlefield, Conn.
My dear Jajor Llerwin:-
In reply to your very l:ind letter I would say that
the official title of our institution is "University of
Rochester". The name of the Professor who presided in the
absence of the President, was Professor Henry P. Burton.
I can hardly tell you how much your visit to Roches-
ter was appreciated and enjoyed, and I shall personally never
forget the opportunity to meet you, afforded by our little
dinner. I keenly regret my inability to fce present at the
lecture on Lincoln1 s interpretation of Shakespeare.
Wishing you many years of carrying on your good
work and that these years may count frequent visits to Roches-
ter, I am,
Yours very truly,
(Signed) Geo. M. Fcrbes.
July 20, 1010/
liine^hamton, N.i'.
i.lajor J- 3. I.Iorwin,
Middlefield, Con_i.
Dear Major tferwin:-
Your letter Of the ftlfl i»t WSJ of exceeding interest.
. *. a nr - \x ared - '8
I enclose you a printed o 1Z lcn w~
V1. „ T -ufiVfi referred to it ir atax es
Binghamton P.epublioan. I nave ren rrui
ever since it oamo .
. t **_«,« r virvfl - .weivaa with '-hani'.e.
Your suhseiuont lettere n.ve - y
«.~~ « o -,-, -f i o « i strikes i e very favor*
Your proposition concern! ten ecu .tie.; s ,r
aWy„ I hU Buteltteft the sane the N]f ^r- > ice and c all
hear fro. thea in a few days ana will then ot ^e ^
I have just phone to Kr L. .rr./lor. 100 Hia street, l
is the son of the Dr -aylor to *hon yonrafer in yow letter. W
Taylor wae not in hut I told Mre laylor to looV on paft seve:. of
this mornings Republics for rof r:nce to her father-in-law.
She had not seen >nr letter.
jst cordially yours,
X
District Superintender vt.
\
J. B. M E R W I N
July 22, '10
Astonished to see his letter of July 5, m
Print. Mentions mistakes in it.
V
•••\
^
\
S^^^z
>^r
*f
July *3, 1910
j.incihainton, N.X.
liajor lierwin,
I'iiiulr field, Conn,
ajor . ( it/1 1 '•-
errors
I an to receipt of your f • "' "■•»■ i
•, ■ Loal. \3y t v oto oi
at -.:'■ oh C ;^v - •
bVicn.n« Ill ~
. ':oo .ato
' ■ . . 31 '
1.11 /j "-or ■; : • 0TB d.
i ] :•■■
rora oorroc ;ei »
lie, thin re* o:
>re perfect: id *t
a litt: have ra rrod
•r. , ' •'.,:■ e ia-
£ i was mi ue
oopie iafle ii - >b,t
: waj r 1 • near
. Loned.
a1 ngtog Ltt laid ap*
ood Lc i j i rvio yc ir.
[indly bell in . tffcrat -; ;a of
o: ill 'a ■ " i i . -o.
Moat - ■,
i
4T
c irintc dent
Richmond, Missouri.
19 July 1910
Mr J. B. Merwin,
Dear Sir,
Your letter of the 15, at hand and will write a short
jwer. T was elected Sheriff of Ray County, llojji ny Hovember
19(5)6, "e had at that time twelve Saloons and twenty whiskey
ag Stores in the county. How we have no Saloons and no.dives.
You cant "buy any hitters of any kind g± Patent Medicine that
can be used as a beverage; or any percent of alcohol in soft
drinks. Some of our Doctors wrote Illegal P^r/§criptions and
they were indicted and fined o 100. each.
I think the above record speaks for itself as to the condition
of our county. \!e hope to have State wide Prohibition after
Hovember. tye are bothered some with a few fellows going to other
Towns in adjoining Counties and getting whiskey. The people
to inforce any law have to elect men in sj^mpathy with the law
and in regard to Ray County electing the best Sheriff in
Missouri, we have the same Sheriff and prosecuting Attorney-
spoken of in the clipping and the above discription of the
condition in Ray County tells what we are doing with the
help of the people. You spoke of Col. Jacob Child, #e has
been dead for years.
Wishing you success in your work and State wide Prohibition
for us this fall. I remain
Respectfully
)
I Jt'c-l<juh Geo. E. Sanders
«
3/
I
J. B. MERHH
July 28, 1910
a
Nicoly a German infiuel,Hay "a boy". They
aid not want to feature Lincoln's religion nor his
temperance principles for fear of making their
Life of Lincoln less popular.
Herndon, an avowed infidel. The liquor
subsidized press opposes IteTWln's ststements about
Lincoln as a Prohibitionist.
<^<&>*-t^l
S&£^Z£4>£>*^L
Aug. 4f 1910.
Bin^hamton, N.Y..
ilajor o
\ >rwin,
Sii&dlefield, Conn t
Dear Major ler.vin:-.
You wlll: reaaoibe • the criticism op33©eming Good Friday*
X find c'-v.. loo" in/- at r^r alary that I entered tinder the date of
rida:,- April Hth li following; "At office until 11:30 wh
it cio^eo'^ tttikr ! J i-'o the e ! • z ; • an oj?portu ity to attend
ohu ■-., :.. ■ Good ibriaay," Eais ought to gentle the matter
of G:>od Fra receiving attention from all
, least in IOC.
It
■Xj-4.
I enclose you our reprint on our duplicating maqhii of
■ :r earreotod 1< ;ter* nre is no expense bo , w :r'or as
n i* ■ i id J ssue*
: .:/ o.
• th ' ■ i]
J I.l.yq the follow:! g i print Boncer :■ : your interview
. - ■ . ■;■,. , ' ed tern Bom news n p
s o. here ie an e< par v. ha his reneari i
tj E .•■■: proi ; Le : ' e ;. uor traffic folic* ii ...
bru tion«. "■•• ia as follows: nIa 1042, less that a quarter
s| ; previcte ! rfould some rcfeefc i e
la bo ii3 i lave nor a d] u ■• I ii ■ land*
• ope '• Lv<
If ao :- :1a
. •".
live see i iotio] ful Llled.
er." Is - ! ed?
thou - . ' • '. SO rain, « '; ■ do - 7om : > :" 0"! •'
c i " v- atic
■ ■•: Lall r ' 3urs.
the
<&JfcQjLcdcj^/*^
•-! ■• ic1 c or ' •' -out;
S3
sZ&trg^ <&-o**— «^i_
<S*~Z<_
**6* 16, 1910.
■din^hamton, N.Y.
Middle field, Conn.
£ear sir:-
** Blafeeslw «,«. CC!,iin _.
temooa ■ ...,„ ls 0l-lce ^^teri
' m Bttt0 and gnite Rev-mi- • •
Hia coll.„r bonr «,„« , , TreV ^jurea.
■ .one Wtwtaad^^
"••» -o.biaaen * thp 4oetor8 to „ **
- W „ that . * tL° ^ bUBiM*« He recuests
«« cannot cori? dcr M«- t , .
»««« to ,0Ur irttw of /e8t0PfllF.
/ , . .TW tr«ly youra,
-Jhe-r.
Jtr
J. B. M E R W I N
August 5, '10.
Discusses "Good Friday", my record in my diary
under date of April lA, 1865 and my experiences in
Washington.
/
\^^^^^^^==r
Q<Sa^>t't:{^%fy/Z
y-ey^.
K iv
*^tyfast^<£^
/^3L^t> /&s*-^>e
Aug
Bincjhaiaton, N.'x
jor
. Elerwin,
field. Conn.
It vras
i r IteJor Serwln:
t have yorx fcii bter of the 30th Inst.
,,++1p Aort of a miracle that I was not killed outrig&V^c
little- eeovering nuch more rapidly than
Mf« . I* uoT:nstairS_ in a bat-irohe..
oletll ' >grapner. » nc m .;^-
1 -S?*! tov/ar. recovery. -.The
.tg » somewhat li i itic*
,.., - i lc n as tiiongn I GliOUlu 00
■■ -V .., : eral
. moi *W cannot
1 so s >on«
Le to t'ho idea oi ; a IT-
:■■ several* adU - W*2g
r Teat do- o i • - ^ -
i v. Vf noi 6 to take ;hat latter
oi It a succo -o -
Injury.
he infemap. Uquoi bjrafj ic.
■ ' •■ rest for your .'. ffl«
lost oordially ;y^>:-
District Superintend I
J:
/?<<
J:
.k-
5*£ ^
JL* B. M E ft W I N
August 25, 1910
My automobile accident. His proposed address-
es. Those he gave in Rochester. warns against
my go ins to Penn Ian.
/
J<
ft
.jinjghaaton, N.Y.i
Oct. 5. 1910.
tffijor J. B. Ifierwln,
Lddlef lolfi, Conn.
JJcar Major Merwin:-*
I 3i<? no intend to neglaot you so. ^Ioclco pardon i
not writing you. sooner* I "".arc bear a aerai-in valid o. ino
and this »nst b- . ■••'o! egy together with pressure •. .r :j:k.
As you prophesied I waa unable to go to the ?enn ion
Lt th&t netting the ' r of the a ilo;
secretary to it me on r> listri< - the ..act
that a man
tr v.as not oo
CLd )e engaged.
cwo or th] ■ ii .
unanimously to *j«nloy a man ar>
us to raake a . tea
■
it is
or tooth I
It 4
, " . 1 J.Mt
.0
age i aome tl Lb
• '.: on • •: I strlott
I. re . it
I havo talfced i bte
n do n >t iow we oj • '"
on flvj dietriet, as tnuoh i
or; a :
would bo well perhape. ' find ;
on Sundi ci have bo pay f : ' e b
horn : . •.. j oar oul I
an,
'
result in clc da^jree I
further preaentati* ■:
in to the 3u do ores n1 tion 1
. 3u at re 1 3 . h • "' '' »
aar> ... 3ttt thia would
that even li Lg] raotioall
lndidei 6 > your speaking but what t old
have gotten t tine
a aeriea of consecutive ove i ■
In floutol . In to mi
a real . iicoeea thara o
spent in ;hs thing*
ere is the added Sanger of having burnt o- •' 30
ar • *
toeo
pn •■: ■ oaui ar«
Lth r< net to thaai
1 sent j ' I ax to
to t 0 »ut, the . • of 'Inir. ' 8«
iiot of wl^ao publiahed it wii e e 00 tion 3
N
F. D. B L A K E 8 L E E to Charles T. White,
""January 23, 19 lS
concerning discrepancies in MaJ. J.B.
Merwin's statements.
CHARLES T. WHITE
to F.D.Blakeslee, 3 letters, January
26, 28 & 30, 1918, relating to Merwin's statements.
^
("has T. White
277 Decatur St.
Brooklyii,N.Y
O^-^^v (©J^
Ctias T. White
277 Decatur S1
I Jroiiklsn.iN f.Y
Chas T. White
2?7 Decatur St.
Brooklyn,N.Y
-3 & r cf/('
/VH-e
tfr&HS^
- J /
w
THE CHURCH IN ACTION AGAINST THE SALOON"
.fl
OFFICIAL ORGAN
"THE AMERICAN ISSUE" NEW rouK edition
WEEKLY. ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR
ROLLIH 0. EVERHART. EDITOR
CYRUS P. KEEN. ASST. STATE SUPT
ABNER B. BROWN. ATTORNEY
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
REV. SAM L. HAMILTON, SUPT.
MAX W. BEYEf*. ASST. SUPT.
district offices up-state
Capital (Albany-). Central (syracuscI
Western (Rochester)
The Anti-Saloon League of New York
BOARD or DIRECTORS
WILLIAM H. ANDERSON. State Superintendent
156 Fifth Avenue NEW YORK CITY
SUITE 121ft FMESerTCRMN BUILOING
PHONE CftAMEACY '■* i
%tlMsrp9
REV. DAVID JAMES BURRELL. 0 0.. LLC. Pits.
TRUMAR H.HAttrillH. E50. F.»5T VlCl PRIF..
REV JAMES V CHALMERS 0 0
RCV WILLIAM C SPICES, D 0 . 6 LOVtRlviLLC
RE* 1. B 5NTEET D 0 . BitGnAMTSK
REV. WILLIAM M. MORC-AM
LA F R CAVtlNJ W«7rr<TG«..
kt. ft. A I fcu'ltAN t D., bi'.MlK
rev aeci-oE cAler moor. b. d . ■ •ooito
REV. ALLAANCPR McAIMLAf. fior
June 23, 1917
.1 oor
vrt*k\
■ ■
."ttro be
M v
TO BBtE PIBLD PORCB:--
I would suggest if you
hare
:ioii
already thought of it, that yon file away
the names of the Fed Cross 3ontri"hutors in
all the cities in your district where
hnre been published.
Your a very cor dlrl ly.
they
Stave Sulo.eJl ntendent.
o
. I
WHA /P
oarf* arc ■ ; v
:*s gif axi
• r w^
00
3 »(f taow afoirv
~ ., ,,;,,: bis uO^ ^X^3 V
*^>
r
•MOO.IA3 Bl
the cj.'s fir8^^w^^;{IC$5!^A1Aji»A^ League. At that
date there ojrthf <W "bo ti6 dttft J&^gk ffiW*?*Sf, hlBJ°^- J*"?'**
voi^ 44it$rj|itin£ to compare ffi&, vsq.qx^Mm the MaJ.'s later etatewmte.
a .V3H
.W XAM
aifvai!5^reatly interested in-'tehis matter, and if you ^aim $&„&#&„
a&& °he p&Mchce to help me look carefully into it I shall ftje^^eetlfcy -a *3
obliged tflrTott. I have no doubt you are equally interested witk-jaeV-'oiofj*
sulrjoct^/a, ver^- interesting psychological problem, so it seemst^:^©^1,^"*.
; was impressed at O.tlan. City that the aj. did not prom^tj^l^o^'^jin-
itely answer r. Russel's questions, sfesaciag in many oa8aaJ.vafto*uig™a. 'w*a&»
eniSg of hi* mind, as I construed it. ' "*W*
On p. S69 Dr. R. states that Herwin willed the Lincoln order to the A.S.L.
Yes, I see that the Maj. also makes that statement. ;7hat do you loaow if
this?
On p. 270 liaj. says that L. when he left the partnership of the grocery
store had to pay a thousand dollars of the debts of the concern. Leonard
Swett is quoted as saying: -"he was to step out as he stepped in. H* had
nothing when he stepped in. and he ha.<| nothing when he stepped out". 3.
does not deny that L. had to pay the "1.000., "but one w'd not suppose it to
he so- Awn. S+s^&y cul^i-
oes the statement on ^•3?2 '^xat !M^s^; saart.^raUr^a consult 25 Or 30
leading Judges and ^w^e*^^
upon the publication here of mTa letter to me a preaaher said to me that
the statement shout master in the cabinet room when ::rs. L. told her hus-
band of the theatre engagement, aecme:! improbable because at that time very
little was made of Baawr vf ffia churches, Kajor . answers that by tell-
ing what he knew of those observances, and I looked up in my diary and find
this re cord:- "At office until 11.30 when it closed in order to give the
clerks an opportunity to attend church, it being Good Friday." This was un-
der the date April 14th, 1865. .. ijfadft !,:• wrote me after I had sent him this
quotation: -^1^9 v^Lae off all jfy& pillions living has such a record as to (jood
Frlda^V • "then tells that many have spolren to him of the assassination
bein& a judgment upon iJr. L... for his so desecrating that holy day. Of course
none but an almost fanatic would taBc that way, I think. Hi then again re-
fers to my diary ana says:- "How singular it is, -your record of the hour of
the closing of the office and the purpose] It is all so real and vivid to
mo."
On p. 265 r.ussell says that M*j* H. is a native of conn. whoa 7?ho says
he waa born in this city and the Llaj. confirmed to me that statement.
On pp 246--S48 Of the Proceedings of the Fifteenth ITatfl A.S.L.Conv., at
Columbus, Ohio, ec. 10-15, '13, is a report of liaj. H^s Speech. He is
quoted as saying that Lincoln when the proposal of taxing the licj. traff. as
a war measure was up said that he w'd rather cut off his right arm than to
sign such a measure, and that he did it only af«6er assurance that after the
war it wfd be repealed. >o you Imow of any confirmationof this?
^ I am wondering if robert ineoln eoulu not throw light on the matter of the
engagement of the box at Ford's Theatre.
I asked :Taj. !';!• why such histories as Hi . "ay's did not give the facta
re^ardin? Lincoln's temp, principles and Ms religious character. In reply
he said:- "I asked and insisted that Lrr. Lincoln's religious views and hie
status as a total abstainer & a "Prohibitionist" sh'4 be stated. But llick-
oly was a German infidel and Hay a "boy". 'They insisted they must write a
"popular" Life of Lincoln. 2har these two "specialties "were not in any es-
sential way an asset & the work must be. such as w'd not off end any one, so
THE CHURCH IN ACTION AGAINST THE SALOON"
The Anti-Saloon League of New York
official organ WILLIAM H. ANDERSON, State Su peri ntendent '
"THE AMERICAN ISSUE" NEW YORK EDITION ,56 F|FTH AV£NUE NEW Y0RK CITy BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WEEKLY. ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR BURRELL 0 D LL D O.M^
__...__ -„._„.„. „ „ »UITe lil* P«tJBYTr«IAN BUILOIRS REV. DAVID JAMES BURRELL. DD. LLD..\#««J,,
ROLLIN 0. EVERHART. EDITOR TRUMAN H BALDWIN E:o . F<«JT Vice Pun.
CYRUS P. KEEN. ASST. STATE SUPT
ABNER B. BROWN. ATTORNEY
\phoni tmnncr i./j rev james v Chalmers d d
/~\ REV WILLIAM C 3RICER. O.D . GLOVCMVlHt
mO w\aJM
REV J B SWEET. D 0 . BmilHAMTc.il
REV WILLIAM M MORGAN. D D
DR F R CALKINS W>
METROPOLITAN DISTRICT REV. W W T DUNCAN. D. D.. BIOOBIV*
REV. GEORGE CALEB MOOR. 0 0 . I
REV. ALEXANDER McKINLAV. T«or
REV. SAM L. HAMILTON. SUPT. ftttQL . 0 MV. GEO
MAX W. BEYER, ASST. SUPT.
district offices up-state
Capital (Albany). Central (Syracuse)
Western (Rochester)
•ft
Juse Fl, 191?
•israsa
TO :~
Youro rary cordially,
I V "
'f ■ • 'X'jUU^lc^ Om
Jt&U .inparlnteA&ant*
-^7
I
r\7 TSlltoI O 1BMO SflCI
fcl
It is iuwortent that we be elear on
the eiteetien of tl* Be^onal American leeue bolng
wont to %ho0nr^ho anbuoribe £1.00 a wonfch or ttoto.
I enclose 00^ of u letter whieh le sent to each Jjf
l.i (, a month anbeoriber. flier a has be«n one oo'^- J^
i ilnt niv* one case I >» nrA of, of a ,'«n who
too*: offen«i» because o.i form of tho let tor • p.fter
thinking it ovur I hare slightly nodlfiort tfhe phrnse-
olo$y *nd chnnjod the BOtfuonoot hut to> j.- refer to ^jj'
it nttind on the imrae gene ml baais, vis: that wo .111
not -ro to tlsa xtlng tn« oxtr • unions
•the party ie to soy tV s It.
.the wr.y ';o obvJ lble nf te relay
it? not to on j in tho Sunday speech tlv
"will he sent"* but to say If you enhscrlht /1.00 c mont ,
or room, " lo the rii .bus*
Wo want ovory mm in evory StokUs' speooh "*
to make this point beoaufco it doss eot so an indnoeraont.
It ijeto »:Orae men *;o ;o up to 1.0 by driving a peg at
the , laos, who really <io not ■ for the pa:. r. %r srA
If tb»>rs are ^n-y further i«c ..fits on
tola score I would like to het.r sh^m*
> 8SW
cexlv .fcai:
"MOOJAB 3HT TBHIAOA MOIT3A H! HDRUH3 3HT
MflOY W3H ^O 3UOA3J HOOJAa-ITHA 3HT
EflOTD3Ria lO QHA08
,.<j.jj ..a a .JJsnRue s3MAi oivao .van
3H1 33W .. ' 1*8 .H MAMUBT
.a. 0 2-1?MJAHl. V 89MAI .VBD
iv«n3voi- .v .V3«
■nHOMia . 0 U T33W2 B ,1
JJJ .0.0 .'.
BYJuoasa ..o .o .'..•• '■'■■ .V3H
nrj»oona ..a .a ,b< • a .V3H
3M A3QV1AX3JA .V3H
TH3aH3imn3qo3 3TAT2 ,M02H3aHA .H MAIJJ1W
YTID HHOY W3H SUHSVA Hflll 32 f
B M.UR3Tvee3fli eisr STtua
. 13MAH3 3K0H1
v
,v»
60 .ohubert .treet,
1/23/18 •
Charles .;•. hite,
277 Decatur street,
rooklyn, 1T.Y.
IV Bro. ,'^hite:-
It was a great pleasure to
meet again at no distant day*
HAO.'i
MOITiaa »fl il K1AOIA3MA -
AA3Y J13S
:n!3V3 .o nujon
T1L>3 3TAT3 .T33A .H33X .=1 SUHYD
vanfioTTA ,uwo?ia a ?.3hsa
TOIHTaia HATIJ010flT3M
.T1U3.HOTJIMAH .J MA3 .V3H
.T1U2 .TSeA ,fi3Y3a .W XAM
3TAT3-qU 83013^10 TOlflTSta
|38udabys) JAHTXI3D .(vhasja) jatiiaD
(>12: ' . 513T23W
et you last Junday and I hope we may
■
I am enclosing copy of the letter which t-aj. ~;.errin wrote me and to which
referred in my little talk at the Junday bchool. ITote taht he tells me he
heard of the assassination in Bill* the night it occurred. See the state-
ment on the reel slip enclose a. which he sent mo., and $or which lie must hare
been responsible, that he aiC- net Imov; of it till ,#a#-fc stepped out of the trail
at Hew Yor!k the' next morning. A_
rtcerain^
hand of her fiav
tradioted in :;iboa*r
I read:- " r.
o me
M -V.
;o me of Irs, Lincoln's informirag her hus-
n invitation to the theatre, it seems to he con-
01droydfs " ?3ination of Abraham Lincoln". On p. 11
?ord, business manager q£ the theatre , was in the hex
^
office when the messenger came froda the '.'.liito House at half->paat ten ©•cloofc
on the morning .of the 14th to 'secure a,, box for the treatment, ifrB. Lincoln,
and dene: rs. Grant. "!i>: >r had aceapted an invitation from
f'O accompany htm rs. incoln tre. ?he . resi&en
. night, hut they had no knowl-
2Ception of the message at half-
had been previously invited
•e there of his intended vis
past ten o'cioefc tl
I find that" " a voli^inoufl correspondence with t: j., many
more I rs than . supposed.. U. .zsy., clippings sent me by him. I pi-
sume you have all tie clippings c©»eo,rh'i!b&. .w' ~ addresses, have you
not? ■ ' "'; m':t '
I have reaa that the !5&3, had a ver. ?e and' v<iable library. Did he i
leave this to you, also?
Convention
As to the ;:a3.«s afe. ".'.>ofs T^o in .Amor, birthday was I.I«7 ;5
22, 'S5. r)n p. 267 o Ii '"rocV ; of 'tV. Sixteenth ITational/of the Anti-£
Saloon of America he 'confirms Hi On p. 265 the statement is made
that he was fully prepared for College at 20 B of age. but did not en-
ter college. Instead he. became a ranee editor and la-ter { One wfd sup*
PPJS^AJLi^st jhave ten some , lajefc) Cor. Jee'y of the Conn. eorn. iioc^, and
«^ra!lBG "fhe " state^au^pteTT^ ain Law". tis law was adopted in «51,
%ere is a discrepancy ri^ht Iiotq on the pp of this
wa are told on p. 2§6.
volnma. >t •w! he w»d have- 'been but 16 ye«rs of tgal ^he vol referred to
.3
1b one understood you to toll mo you?Hio»# 2^ ^n«0?nferMo«rw*S %Bn'
, 272 ::erwin says that Lincoln a&< began to confer on his trip to
freely on Thursday eve. In his letter to me he says that it was on "Jed. ov.
and that it was continued the next eve.
Have you ever seen the record of the Interview that :or. Howard -I. Russell
with the Ma J. when Russell had a stenographer take down for six
hours, in »05
1
■
■
K» OTI
0 .HA3HU0 T * ,
jHAXJJA V3R
Bincihainton, N.Y.,
60 ^chubert otreet, S/l/lo.
van^oTTA .Hwona .a nam
TOiaTc.Q I iT3M
.■p»U8 .HOTJ1H MAE .V
.Tiu 3Y36 .W X.'
I u
I arrived home lato last evening after an absence,: of «1^ .-■ ^T'"D
days to find your tliroo letters. I sincerely thank you for the troub-
le you have taken In the natter. But the effect upon me is depressing,
rwin had sent him each lime the .Tho's tfho was revised, as woll as
at the beginning, a proof of his write-up in that volume, at least that
was the oase .^ith lae and my. two sons, and T have -o doubt it was the case
with every one whose name appears, that the subject of the sketch xoiglit
make any correction: . ^hat bhe ;;&3, allowed ;his aevseal times to bo re-
turned to the publisher with his birthplace, Binghamton,and his birthdate
six years out of tl?e way is too bad. It calls to mini the adage;- wT?al-
sus in uno, falsus in omnibus." One does not know what to believe of his
statements xk concerning Lincoln whiolt are not confirmed by others
and' as J understand it most of his utterances concerning Lincoln* s temper-
ance history are suah» ..id the brother-in-law offer any remark concerning
the misstatement concerning age and birthplace? .m curious to know
why t • ]or seloetod Linghamton as the place for his birth, I statsd
to you that he had confirmed to me that he was born here. But I am in
error ~o far as a direct statement is concerned, I think. I referred to
fact .as born in the ci ; residence and in replying to
fctsr he "id not deny it hut referred to tnepoople he used to know '
!:ere, wl: ould seem to confirm i^y z it» but does not exactly do so.
lincoln's birtnday is r ;-. If you know, of any organ-
.ii, school, association of any "Trine" ' would like me to £ive a Lin-
coln tall: on that day kindly lot me kno ■.'.. I have covered this section
in that way for some years past.
„ost cordially yourfl,
! .
o' ' ■/ *~tf
f
{j
i
/
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V* f
.7
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vw
L^j^-J^^
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f c <■
b Ljl /> /K>/
ir--,/ / 7 / ., f-I ^T-A /+**<- »>**>*-
— _. <&
LINCOLN INDORSES TEMPERANCE FOR THE ARMY. (See page 166)
in .inly. 1801, a memorial, or petition, ^ i irnc-, i i ■> n score or more Df the most Influential men In American
public life, asking for the appointment of Jniues B. Merwta ns n major In the army, or to Rome i«.-i t i.-n where
In- would he able to make temperauee addresses to the ti ps in the Held and hospital, was presi nted to Pn •
Uncoln. Merwln always asserted thai 1 1 1 i — was done at Lincoln's own suggestion. Ti i i - memorial was written
by Governor Buckingham, of Connecticut, on a sheet foolscap size. Following his ordinary ehstoin, l'r
l.iin-oln wrote liis Indorsement on the fold of the document, as follows:
"II il be ascertained at the War Department thai the President has legal mithorlty to make an appoint-
ment such as i- asked within, and Gen. Scott Is of opinion ii will be available for good, ibcn let it be done.
"July it. 1801."
A . lis
Following the President's memorandum arc two others:
"I csteecm the mission of Mr. Merwln I" tins army a happy circumstance, and request : » 1 1 commanders lo
give him free access to .ill of our camps and posts, and also to multiply occasions to enable him i" iddres* our
officers and nicu. Winiwlo Scott.
"July 24, 1861."
I 1] IARTMEN r or VIRGINIA.
"The mission "i Mr. Merwln will be of great benefit lo the troops, and 1 will furnish him with every
fncllrtj i" address ihe troops under my command, l hope the general commanding the army win give bim such
official position ns Mr. Merwln may desire i" carrj out hie object, B. F. Butler.
"Major General."
oAbrabam Lincoln— Eramer of a
Prohibition Law
The Late Rev. James B. Merwin's Affidavit, Documents and Data
Telling of Lincoln's Aggressive Activity for the
Suppression of Alcoholic Beverages
By CHARLES T. WHITE, Former Commissioner of Taxes, New York City
THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE in this issue presents photo-
graphic reproductions of original documents and data
owned by the late Rev. James B. Merwin, associate of
Abraham Lincoln, Congregational minister, army chap-
lain, editor of the American Journal of Education, and temper-
ance reformer, who died in Brooklyn on April 5, 1917, and was
buried in New Britain, Conn
Merwin's contention, on and off the lecture platform, that
Lincoln took an active part in a campaign for State-wide prohibi-
tion in Illinois in 1855, and wrote the prohibition law, which
was passed by the Legislature and defeated through gross fraud
by 14,000 votes at a special referendum election on June 24, 1855,
seems to be reasonably well sustained.
While it would perhaps be straining the facts, in the absence
of absolute proof, to say that Lincoln was a prohibitionist, as
the term is politically understood, still it remains for those who
hold to the contrary to controvert Merwin and his documents.
I ADVOCATE February 6, 1919
&% /fU.
"MAJOR" MERWIN AND HIS ARMY PASS
A heavy gold watch, with an inscription on an inside case,
which inscription was written by Lincoln, according to the
affidavit of Merwin, turns up as a "document" tending to connect
Lincoln directly with the prohibition campaign in Illinois in
1855. The watch now is the property of the family of Lyman A.
Mills, of Middlefield, Connecticut.
A statement by Merwin that, because of its prophetic content,
never failed to attract attention, was that on the afternoon of
April 14, 1865, the day of the assassination, as he was leaving
Washington for New York to see Horace Greeley on a private
mission for President Lincoln, the latter said to him:
"Merwin, we have cleaned up a colossal job. We have abol-
ished slavery. After reconstruction the next great movement on
the part of the people will be the overthrow of the legalized liquor
traffic, and you know my heart and my hand, my purse and my
life will be given to that great movement. I prophesied twenty-
five years ago that the day would come when there would not be
a slave or a drunkard in the land. I have seen the first part
come true."
"Mr. Lincoln, shall I make this public?" asked Merwin.
"Yes, publish it as broad as the daylight," said Lincoln.
This statement by Merwin never has been successfully con-
troverted. Nor was the other feature of it, namely, that he
lunched with Lincoln on the last day of the Great Emancipator's
life, conferring over General Butler's plan for employing colored
soldier help on the digging of the Panama Canal. That the plan
was thoroughly discussed by both Lincoln and Butler is proved
by General Butler's own narrative.
The Illinois Prohibition Campaign of 1855
The thing that Merwin had most trouble in establishing was
Lincoln's participation in the prohibition campaign in Illinois
in 1855. He first asserted it soon after President Lincoln's assas-
sination, but other things were so much more important then
than Lincoln's affiliation with temperance work that it attracted
no attention.
Illinois history does not directly connect President Lincoln
with the 1855 campaign. Mr. Merwin's statement to the writer,
as well as to others who asked him about this particular point,
follows:
"Lincoln in 1855 was a poor country lawyer, and his practice,
while considerable, was anything but lucrative. Stenographers
were a rarity in Illinois at that time. It would have been sur-
prising if any record of a temperance address in 1855 was made.
Lincoln, however, made twenty or thirty magnificent addresses
for the suppression of the liquor traffic in that campaign in vari-
ous cities and towns of Illinois. Many of the addresses were
made on court house steps. Few were made in churches. Abra-
ham Lincoln at that time was not regarded as an orthodox Chris-
tian believer. Few clergymen were broad enough in their spirit
to welcome him to their pulpits. In Springfield he was a regular
attendant at the Presbyterian Church, although he never joined
the church or subscribed to a religious creed."
With reference to his association with Lincoln and how it
came about, Major Merwin said:
"After temperance campaign work in the State of Connecticut,
on the solicitation of friends in Illinois, who wanted a law like
the Dow law in Maine for Illinois, I went to Springfield in the
early winter of 1854. There was a temperance meeting in prog-
ress in the old State House the night I arrived. I went to it.
After a number of addresses, there were calls for Abe Lincoln!'
from various parts of the assembly room. These were repeated
until finally some one went out and summoned him. He had been
reading law in the State Library. When he entered the assembly
room he was dressed in an absurd looking coat, with sleeves too
short for him by nearly a foot. In his hurry to the call, he -had
picked up the janitor's coat and put it on in his walk through
the hall on his way to the meeting. There was a titter at his
appearance, but it stopped as soon as he began to talk. No one
ever had occasion to laugh at Abraham Lincoln when he was
speaking from the heart. He made a most wonderful temperance
address, far more powerful than that made by him in Springfield
on February 22, 1842, and quoted in the histories.
"After the meeting I introduced myself to him, told him my
mission to Springfield, and we went to his home together. I had
with me a copy of the Maine law, and we sat up all night looking
,over that statute. I was a young man of about twenty-five then,
and Lincoln, of course, was much older.
The Law that Lincoln Framed
"That was the beginning of the campaign for the adoption of
a prohibition law for the State of Illinois. Mr. Lincoln set to
work to frame a law, and he worked at it almost constantly for
weeks. After he had completed it he had me take it around the
State to get the views of his lawyer friends. I showed it to John
M. Palmer, Leonard Swett and others. I went to the home of
Judge David Davis and asked him to pass judgment on it. Davis
was surly, and asked me if Mr. Lincoln had sent a retainer along
to pay for the work. When I reported this back to Mr. Lincoln
he was deeply hurt, as he had considered Judge Davis a good
friend. He spoke to me about the incident just before he, as
President, appointed Judge Davis to the Supreme Court bench.
"The law drafted by Lincoln was passed by the Legislature. It
carried a referendum clause, providing for its submission to the
l
AN ACT for the Suppression of intemperance, and to amend chapter 30
of the Revised Statutes.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the state nj
Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That no
person shall, at any time or place, within this state, manu-
facture or sell, or shall, at any store, grocery, tavern or
place of trade, entertainment or public resort, or railroad
or caaah or in any of the-appurtenances or dependencies
of any such place, give away, contrary to the provisions of
this '.act, by himself, his servant or agent, directly or indi-
rectly, any spiritous or intoxicating liquor, or any mixed
liquor, of which a part is spiritous or intoxicating, except
S3 hereinafter provided; and ale, porter, lager beer, cider,
and all wines, are included among intoxicating liquors with-
in the meaning of this act.
Facsimile of Section I, of the llliriWi Prohibition Act of 1855 d'«"edby
i Abraham Uncoln. Warn tbe printed volume of the "Public Uwi of inu.ui. ,
is:,:,."
Voters at a special election in June. It also provided that some-
thing like 50,000 copies should be printed for public distribution.
These were parceled out to the various counties.
"The campaign was largely financed by William B. Ogden, of
Chicago, and Mr. Ogden's business associates. Some of them
were very suspicious of Lincoln's connection with the movement
in any relation whatsoever. One Dr. N. P. Davis, a prominent
physician, denounced Lincoln as a mountebank, and said that he
would not serve as chairman of the State committee if Lincoln
had anything to do with the campaign. He said that Lincoln
was ready to join any now movement, and that his connection
with the temperance campaign would hurt the cause.
"In company with Mr. Lincoln I called on William B. Ogden,
who said: 'Here is my check for $2,500. As President of' the
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad I can well afford to give this
and much more if I can lessen drunkenness among my employees.
If you want more money come back and I will have it ready for
you.'
"Lincoln was the brains of that campaign. The rest of us took
orders. The anti-slavery excitement was keen, and Lincoln was
deeply interested in that, but lie did not relax in the campaign
for the adoption of the law which he himself had framed. Wc
really won that election, but. were cheated out of it in Chi-
cago and in the border towns where the slavery and whisky
people ran in illegal voters without let or hindrance.
"After the campaign was over, and before I left the State to go
Sent by Lincoln to Talk Temperance to Soldiers
"With reference to the President's desire to appoint me as a
major I have this to say. The suggestion was bis own. He sent
for me at Adrian. Michigan, and told me that he wanted tem-
perance addresses made to the troops. I was accounted an effec-
tive speaker at that time. President Lincoln suggested that the
best way to accomplish the object was for a memorial, or peti-
tion, to be drawn up asking for my appointment as a major.
This was done by Governor Buckingham, of Connecticut, a per-
sonal friend, and a man of great force. That petition was signed
by the leading men around President Lincoln, including Senators
Sumner and Wilson, of Massachusetts, Senators Trumbull and
Browning, of Illinois, Harlan and Grimes, of Iowa, and many
others.
' Then it was sent to President Lincoln, who indorsed it and
sent it to General Winfleld Scott, the commander in chief of the
army. He indorsed it and sent it to General Butler, who likewise
approved of the plan.
•Then the document was sent to the War Department, where it
struck a snag. .The heads of divisions then ridiculed the idea
of a young clergyman, lame in the hip, being appointed a major.
They 'lost' the document in the War Department, and when
President Lincoln heard that it was lost he sent a message to the
Secretary of War that resulted in the 'finding' of it again in short
order.
"I was kept steadily at the job of talking temperance to the
soldiers in and around Washington. I frequently spoke from a
carriage provided for me by the President, and I reported to him
every week. When I learned that some of the officers were drink-
9
*j6-jfis* -/%^A jyflho, ^^ \ 0?u^^/e-&c?^
toAntf
/i?m/
I(. Mci-win.
TIIF. "PROHIBITION WATCH"
The inscription in the watch reads:
••Presented by the friends ot temperance In Chicago to •>.
corresponding secretary ot the lUluoU Main,. i.« Alliance, us a teken of
?SeI? confidence and regard ror bis untiring energy and perseverance In its
CTraleMerwL55maae KAK affidavit. October 12. 1916:
• •■n„. aforesaid watch was presented to me In tbe year ol 1805, t «' ',
entatlon taking place In the editorial rooms of the Northwestern Christian
Advocate there being presenl at the time the editor Of the Advocate, Mr.
Watson, Abraham Lincoln and others Interested In tbe cause of State Prohl
bltion at that time. Abraham Uncoln was a contributor to the hind f«u
II,,' purchase of the watch, and wrote the wain, inscription Incorporated In
tiiis deposition. , , , ,.
••Abraham Uncoln bad been associated with me In campaigning for more
than six months, and without solicitation or prompting upon Hie part ol
anyone, and wholly, as i belleve»from personal regard, wrote the Inscrlj
already referred to."
to Michigan to do temperance work. Mr. Lincoln, after conference
with others interested in our work, got up a purse, bought a
handsome solid gold watch, with a heavy gold chain, and after
writing an inscription which was engraved on the inside case, he
presented it to me in the office of the Northwestern Christian
Advocate in Chicago, in the presence of the editor, the Rev. J. V.
Watson, and others."
New York watch experts have valued the watch as having cost
between $200 and $300 when it was bought new in the fifties.
When the writer was informed by Mr. Merwin about the inscrip-
tion he asked him if he was willing to take his oath that Abra-
ham Lincoln wrote the inscription for the watch, and was present
at the presentation. He assented without hesitation.
"It is strange that I never thought of doing that years ago,"
said the Major. "That old watch and my old army pass, which
Lincoln helped to make with his own hands, were the most
precious things I ever owned. I lost the watch in a mud hole
once during the war. and I hired a Negro to walk around in the
I mud in his bare feet until he found it. I gave him twenty-five
dollars
A not? given by Gen. .John A. Dlx, to Mr. Merwin In 1861, to enable blm
to promote temperance among the soldiers In the Union camps.
ing to excess, I let the President know of it. This made me very
much disliked by certain men in the War Department. One day
Secretary Stanton sent for me and gave me a tongue lashing.
" 'Merwin,' said he, 'if you don't stop bothering around and
making trouble I'll lock you up in the Capitol Prison.'
"He meant every word of it. I was much distressed about it.
and reported it to the President.
" 'No, Merwin, no,' said he. 'Stanton won't lock you up. 1
would not let him do that. But. Merwin. you must get along with
Stanton, somehow. I will not let him persecute you. but you
must get along peaceably with him. He is doing great work in
the War Department, and I can't spare him.'
"Surgeon General Hammond and I became fast friends 1 was
in New York very often on hospital ships. I knew John Wilkes
Booth. I think that he once talked with the President about
Shakespeare. I know that he was a drunkard, and that he was
bedeviled with whisky when he killed the President.
Lincoln's Last Day
"I was with the President at luncheon on the fatal Friday, the
last day of his life. He was greatly concerned about the disposi-
tion of the colored soldiers soon to be discharp. d. There didn't
seem to he any place for them to go. Those who had borne arms
did not feel like going back to the plantations. General Ben-
jamin F. Butler, a very resourceful man. BUggested to the Presi-
dent that the colored soldiers be used to dim a canal at Panama.
Mr. Lincoln was much interested in the idea, and had General
Butler send him information about it.
"That was the subject of our conversation at luncheon. Mr.
Lincoln had written out a plan comprehending General Butler's
ideas for digging the Panama Canal with colored soldiers, and he
told me that he wanted me to stop off in Philadelphia and see
some of the editors there, and then go on to New York, and ask
Horace Greeley to read the plan, and tell the President what he
thought of it. ^^^^
"I was in Philadelphia that night when the news of the assas-
sination of the President was received. I went on the next fore-
noon to New York and went to the Tribune office, where I left
the manuscript containing the President's ideas with Sidney
Howard Gay, the managing editor, whom I had known for many
yenrs. Mr. Gay said that he would bring it
to the attention «>t" Mr. Greeley. When 1 went
back the next day for a conference with Mr.
Greeley bo had not soon the manuscript.
Everything was in a turmoil over the death of
the President. 1 never was able to recover the
manuscript.
"That was not as serious a loss as one I
sustained in the Chicago fire. In a trunk at
my boarding house in Chicago at the time of
the tire 1 had altogether sixty-six signed letters
and notes from Abraham Lincoln. They had
reference to the work of the temperance cam-
paign in 1855, ami also to the suppression of
slavery. It was accidental that the other docu-
ments and papers which I still have were not
in that trunk. I happened to have them in an-
other place at the time of the fire.
'"Those letters, if I had them now. would
afford the basis for a valuable book, as in some
of the letters Lincoln discussed current day
problems with marvelous ability."
patriotic address of the evening
given by Dr. Paul Voelker,
of BaUle___Creek_
Doctor Voelker^
was
President
College.
TheChrj
February 6, 1919
The Lincoln Pew
By LYMAN WHITNEY ALLEN
[The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Washington, D. C, has been
refurnished since the '60s, but the pew in which Abraham Lincoln used to
sit remains conspicuously unchanged, the center of interest for all visitors
to the historic shrine. This poem has been given to thousands of sol-
dier boys who have entered the church in the past eighteen months.]
Within the historic church both eye and soul
Perceived it. 'Twas the pew where Lincoln sat —
The only Lincoln God hath given to men —
Olden among the modern seats of prayer,
Dark like the 'sixties, place and past akin.
All else has changed, but this remains the same,
A sanctuary in a sanctuary.
NOTES AND COMMENTS
A little more than a year ago I went to
Washington to see Robert T. Lincoln about
the Merwin documents. Mr. Lincoln looked
them over, and then said, in substance :
"As to Merwin himself, after reading some
of the things purporting to come from him, I
have been forced to' the conclusion that he
allowed his imagination to get the best of him.
But as to these documents (referring to the old
army pass and the signed petition) the signa-
tures are genuine. I recognize nearly all of
them. My own father-in-law's name (James
Harlan) is among them. I knew nearly all of
the signers."'
William O. Stoddard, one of Abraham Lin-
coln's secretaries, now residing in Madison,
New Jersey, when asked about Merwin, said :
"I not only have read a good deal about him.
but I remember him. I have no reason to
doubt his veracity. He seems to be an en-
tirely credible witness."
The 1835 campaign for State prohibition in
Illinois receives only the scantiest recognition
at the hands of the historians. Gustave Koer-
ner, once Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, in
his memoirs, says that the campaign was a
bitter contest. There was much rioting in Chi-
cago on election day. Koerner says that th->
temperance forces consisted principally of
those who (like Lincoln) were opposed to the
extension of slavery, and he mentions Lincoln's
long-time friend, Owen Lovejoy, a Congrega-
tional preacher and Congressman, a brother of
Elijah Lovejoy, killed by the pro-slavery mob
in Alton, Colonel Farnsworth, and others, as
leaders. The printed histories carry little
about Lincoln in 1855, except the overshadow-
ing thing, his contest for the United States
senatorship, in which he was defeated by Ly-
man Trumbull. Immediately after the special
election in June, the politicians of all parties
turned their attention to the approaching
struggle over the slavery issue, and the prohibi-
tion movement seems to have been entirely for-
gotten.
Major Merwin in commenting on the absence
in the Nicolay-Hay life of Lincoln of a record
about the 1855 campaign said :
"I went to see John Hay about that very
thing. All the satisfaction I got was that he
and Mr. Nicolay had no data about the 1855
campaign. When I told him I would supply
the data, he said that it would be pretty sure
to provoke controversy, and that the publishers
would not care to consider the matter."
Where Lincoln prayed ! — What passion had his soul —
Mixt faith and anguish melting into prayer
Upon the burning altar of God's fane.
A nation's altar even as his own !
Where Lincoln prayed ! — Such worshipers as he
Make thin ranks down the ages. Would'st thou know
His spirit suppliant? Then must thou feel
War's fiery baptism, taste hate's bitter cup,
Spend similar sweat of blood vicarious,
And sound like cry, "If it be possible !"
From stricken heart in new Gethsemane.
Who saw him there are gone, as he is gone ;
The pew remains, with what God gave him there.
And all the world through him. So let it be —
One of the people's shrines.
known all over this part of the
country for his brilliant ora- i
tory, chose as his subject,
"The Heart of Abraham Lin-
coln." ,
"The greatest thing about
Abraham Lincoln was his
heart," Dr. Voelker said. "He;
had a great and noble heart. I
want to analyze that heart for
you. First of all he had a great
sense of humor, and humor is
an aptitude of the heart.
Lincoln could laugh when con- 1
fronted with the gravest dan-
gers. He read jokes when)
weighed down with the great |
problems of State. We become |
ill physically because we can-
not laugh. Several of us would
not be here tonight if we had
had Lincoln's sense of humor
and could have laughed instead
of worried. He did not allow
failure to worry him. He once
said, 'I have failed in so many
attempts that another failure
does not matter.'
"A second part of Lincoln's
heart was his keen sense of justice, his
realization that fairness in all things is
necessary.
"Another part was his rugged honesty
—his unimpeachable integrity. On one
occasion when Lincoln was working in
a little country store, he unwittingly, in
making change, gave a poor old woman
three cents less than she should have had.
That night he walked nine miles on a
muddy road to return it to her.
"Charity was still another part of Lin-
coln's heart-charity for all and mal.ee
toward none. He was charitable to all
living things. One day, dressed in a new,
home-spun suit and shining shoes, be
passed a pig caught in the wire fencing
of his dirty and muddy pen. To release
the pig meant destruction to his clothes
and shoes, so Lincoln went on his way.
After he had travelled a mile and a halt,
his heart smote him. He returned, went
into the pig's pen and lifted him from
the wires that were making him sutler.
'"His spirit of tolerance was another
great part of Lincoln's heart; so was his
patience. His was the patience to fol-
low through the things he knew were true
and right.
"And he had the spirit of conservatism
and the spirit of unity encased in his
great heart, and Arough them he pre
served the Union."
Dr. Voelker described Lincoln s im-
mortel Gettysburg speech as a monu-
ment of the finest English that has ever
been penned.
*1
J.D.lffiRWlN
at
ATLANTIC CITY. H.J.,
JUL!, 1915
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
institutions the cost to the state of maintaining that proportion of them
made necessary by the liquor evil is estimated at $2.70 for every dollar re-
ceived in license fees.
As a source of public or personal revenue license is a pitiful mockery.
The production of liquor yields to the employees of the business in wages
only 10 per cent of the value of the product, while of all money spent over
and above the bare necessities of life in Massachusetts, 35 per cent goes for
liquor.
The moment a community is freed from liquor its fortunes rise.
The city of Lynn, under a no-license policy of six years, forged to the
front rank and became the first city in the world in the manufacture of
shoes; and then in the first year of license it slipped back to the second
city in the state, and Brockton, a consistently no-license city for nearly 30
years, today occupies the proud place recently held by Lynn.
Back in 1633 we began our attempts to regulate the liquor traffic. In
that year the General Court of the Massachusetts colony enacted a statute
which was the first American-made law to regulate this evil, and for nearly
three centuries we have been trying to find or devise a remedy for this in-
dustrial, political and moral cancer. We have tried every known kind of
regulation; low license and high license, unlimited number of saloons and
a limited number, state-wide Prohibition and local option. While some
methods have proved better than others, in the end, all have signally failed.
We have seen the organized liquor traffic with its vast wealth and
political power nullify our state laws, and then parade its crimes before our
people, boast of its ability to circumvent or violate our statutes and escape
punishment and then because of this arrogance, to ask that we do not
further legislate against it. And when the advance of Prohibition in other
parts of the country has threatened the traffic, we have heard them in their
desperation, point to our compulsory local option law as the panacea for
the difficulties of that community and as the ideal way to regulate the sale of
intoxicating poison. We have heard so much of this within and without our
state that most of us believed it ourselves, for a time at least, but even con-
servative Massachusetts is now awakening, and we of the Bay state have
come to realize that local option is an absurd failure and that the only
effectual way to regulate this traffic is its entire extermination by the federal
government through the medium of a constitutional amendment.
Having been elected three times Governor of the state, and being an
employer of skilled labor within the state, I have been in a position to see
for myself the failure of our present system and to recognize the demand
for national constitutional Prohibition.
Millions of Americans today are conscious and even militant Prohibi-
tionists who have never been Prohibitionists before. This is because the
great chance has but just now come to them. And, if this great oppor-
tunity cannot now be grasped effectively, they will never be Prohibitionists
again. That is because the great chance will never come again.
In the history of civilization, human society has been stirred at succes-
sive periods by big ideas which for the moment have been of paramount
importance. In not one of them, including so recent a problem as tariff
263
reform, can genuine popular interest now be arOused. Today the whole1
civilized world is unfolding a drama, which beggars description, that brings
home to all, the one central idea that the renunciation of personal liberty in
the matter of drinking intoxicants is a high patriotic duty and the surest
guarantee of national and individual safety and prosperity.
The opportunity is here now to carry the issue of national Prohibition
on to a sweeping victory. I am impelled to fight for this issue by my prac-
tical experience with those problems of public administration which arise
from the liquor evil. And no one who has had these problems pointed out
to him can escape the responsibility of failure if he wilfully rejects the
opportunity afforded by current circumstances, to make national Prohibition
an accomplished fact.
Never before has public intelligence been so informed as to the true
nature and extent of the drink evil and as to the remedy.
Never before has the public mind been so free of complicating cross-
currents of political thought.
Never before has the propaganda against the liquor traffic been so
strongly organized or so well equipped to place itself in the lead as a nation-
al movement for the practical realization of its purpose.
Never before has the enemy permitted itself to be so clearly identified
or to appear so odius and intolerable.
Never before has the liquor traffic so boldly thrown down the gauge of
battle and declared its right to political and intellectual leadership in the
United States.
You have always known that the stronghold of the liquor traffic is its
political activity and that the disease that has all the while corrupted
American politics has been the liquor traffic. Now at this opportune time —
this moment of national destiny — the great strategy for the temperance
forces is to fight liquor in the political arena; to meet them on their own
ground — and drive them out.
WHAT WOULD LINCOLN DO?
By Dr. Howard H. Russell, D.D.
(Including Major Merwin's Statement)
Doctor Russell first gave answer to the question, "What Would Lincoln
Do" as to the use of liquor as a beverage. In a vivid way he gave the facts
which he had discovered, covering the life, of Lincoln in Illinois and at
Washington, showing that from the time he promised his dying mother he
would "never touch that which makes people drunk" to the day of his death
he was a total abstainer. He gave an interesting description of the scene
at the South Fork School House, sixteen miles from Springfield, in 1846,
when Abraham Lincoln made a plea for total abstinence, inviting the people
to sign the pledge with him; when Moses Martin, Cleopas Breckenridge and
seven other witnesses — found by Dr. Russell in recent years — were present,
and, at the request of Lincoln, signed the total abstinence pledge.
In answering the question, "What Would Lincoln Do" with reference to
the Prohibition of the liquor traffic, after giving other facts showing Lin-
coln's advocacy of Prohibition, he introduced, as a living witness upon the
264
witness stand, Major J. B. Merwin, of Brooklyn, New York, who gave tes-
timony which was of intense interest to the assembled thousands. In intro-
ducing Major Merwin, Doctor Russell said:
DR. RUSSELL: As an appropriate prelude to what I have to say, I
am going to introduce, once more tonight, my companions in the water-
wagon tour over the Lincoln Highway, which starts from here on Friday,
the Rail-Splitter Quartet of Ohio Wesleyan University, who will now sing
the war songs which Lincoln heard and which Lincoln loved.
(Here the quartet sang.)
("We Will Rally Round the Flag, Boys, Shouting the Battle Cry of
Freedom." "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp." "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground."
"Star Spangled Banner.")
I am about to introduce a man who was an intimate friend of Abraham
Lincoln, to give us his testimony first-handed. I want you to look the wit-
ness in the face, hear his testimony and bear it in your hearts and minds
for all time to come. But before I introduce upon the stand this witness,
tonight, I want to outline a part of his testimony. Ten years ago, in 1905,
having heard something of the facts in the possession of this friend of
Lincoln, I invited him to come to the Grand Union Hotel, in New York City,
took my best office stenographer and for six hours, three hours in the morn-
ing, and three after lunch in the afternoon, I cross-examined this friend,
asked a series of questions to test his memory, his competency as a witness
and the facts of which he has possession, and it is a precious document which
I have thought enough of to keep in my safe until, as I expect soon to do, I
embody it with a volume of other testimonies with regard to Lincoln's atti-
tude on sobriety and the liquor traffic.
This man is Major J. B. Merwin. He is a native of Connecticut, a
grandson of a soldier in the Revolutionary War, Nathan Merwin. In the
examination I made of this witness in the six hours of our interview at
New York, I learned that he secured his education at the Brookfield Acad-
emy in Conecticut. He was fully prepared for Amherst College at 20 years
of age, but his circumstances precluded for the time and afterward for all
time the pleasure of the college course. His first work after his graduation
in the academy was an editor of a temperance paper in the city of Hartford,
Connecticut, appropriately called "Fountain." He became the Correspond-
ing Secretary of the Connecticut Temperance Society, which was the agi-
tational force, the non-partisan organization for temperance in Connecticut
at that time, this society after the "Maine law" had been passed in Maine,
brought on the issue in Connecticut for state-wide Prohibition. The issue
was successful. Neal Dow, himself, appeared before the Legislature in Con-
necticut, so he says, advocated the Maine law, impressed it upon the con-
sciences and hearts of the Legislature. The state had been influenced by
such men, whose appointments for addresses were made by this witness —
such men as Henry Ward Beecher, Horace Greeley and F. T. Barnum.
We have known Barnum as a circus man, but he was an earnest and enthu-
siastic temperance advocate, and took part in temperance campaigns. The
265
law was carried. During one of the meetings, just before the passage of
that law, a citizen of Springfield, Illinois, heard Mr. Merwin in that meeting
and he came to him and said: "When this work is over here, if you will come
to Springfield and give an address to Springfield's citizens upon the question
of the Maine law, I will not only pay your expenses, but will pay you also a
reasonable fee for your services." Soon after the Maine law had passed in
Connecticut in 1851, Mr. Merwin went out to Springfield, Illinois. The
meeting had been arranged in the hall of the House of Representatives of
the state Capitol at Springfield. The Legislature was not then in session.
He found the hall crowded with people when he arose to address them.
After he had finished the speech, giving them an outline of what the Maine
law was, and as was suggested by members of the committee, an appeal
upon the general subject of temperance and the need of the enactment of
law to save the people from the curse of drink. When he finished, his
speech, after the applause subsided, there came a call here and there over the
house, "Lincoln!" "Lincoln!" "Lincoln!" and it was a very persistent call,
a very earnest call, and as Major Merwin looked over to the left, he saw on
a low chair, there, a peculiar tall, awkard looking individual rising from the
chair. He unfolded his long arms and his still longer legs and started toward
the platform. Mr. Merwin says that he was the most unique, uncombed, un-
kempt, awkward individual in his notions and his appearance, that he had
ever yet seen. As he came forward there was a question in Merwin's mind
as to whether this interruption at the close of the address was favorable or
unfavorable. He strided up to the platform, bowed to Mr. Merwin, laid his
hand upon the secretary's desk in the House of Representatives, and began
his speech. Very soon all trouble of mind passed away from the heart of
Mr. Merwin for he began, and gave in twenty minutes, a most earnest appeal
upon the subject of law. Law, its mission, its scope and its purpose, and
went on to say that law is made for protecton of the right, for the protec-
tion of the home, the church, the school, the children. Never was a law
made for the protection of wrong, and the time had come, he said, in the
progress of the temperance reform when law was necessary to be invoked
in order to further the progress of the temperance campaign. He said, we
have tried local option, we have tried the work of persuasion, by various
organizations. The Washingtonian movement has swept over the land and
a great many have been convinced, and a great many have gone back under
the stress of continued temptation, and the time has now come when the
iron hand of law must be put upon the liquor traffic. This thought he de-
veloped in a most eloquent way. Mr. Merwin asserts that he had heard
Beecher, Webster and Phillips, but for twenty minutes he never heard a
more earnest appeal for law as applied to a great moral reform than he
heard on that occasion. He felt that he could hear every heart beat in that
vast concourse of people. When Lincoln finished there was the silence of
deep thoughtfulness. He said it seemed five minutes, the people were in
profound and respectful silence. Then Mr. Lincoln turned to him and in-
vited him to come with him to his home. Mr. Merwin hesitated a little and
spoke to his host. He wondered what kind of a home he would find. He
went to Mr. Lincoln's home and they talked together of this young temper-
266
ance reformer and the future president and martyr until the break of day.
For the conclusion of my speech tonight I want to introduce this man, Major
J. B. Merwin. I want to ask him some questions on the witness stand here
tonight. I want to propound to him, interrogatories, that will follow up what
I have said, justify and warrant my statements and put it into your hearts
and minds, a living testimony that you can carry with you always, and
know absolutely where Abraham Lincoln stood and what he would now do
upon this great question.
DR. RUSSELL: Now I think if you will all give careful attention you
will hear every word that he has to say. I am going to ask your age in the
first place Major.
MAJOR MERWIN: Well I should pass for a young man but I was
eighty years old last May. Hss ***-+- * S1-3
DR. RUSSELL: I want you next, Major, to tell these people whether
or not the statements I have already made with regard to the testimony
you gave me in New York about these matters — whether these statements
are correct or not.
MAJOR MERWIN: Absolutely! Absolutely correct. Every word of
it. Mildly stated.
DR. RUSSELL: I want now to ask a few questions about your intimacy
with Abraham Lincoln. When did you first see him?
MAJOR MERWIN: In 1852 I went to Springfield as you have
described.
' DR. RUSSELL: Spent the night with Mr. Lincoln?
MAJOR MERWIN: I did.
DR. RUSSELL: And you had co-operation with him in temperance
work from that time on?
MAJOR MERWIN: That is correct. Until he was assassinated, from
that time on.
DR. RUSSELL: How did you come to be related with him during the
Civil War?
MAJOR MERWIN: He invited me to come to Washington.
DR. RUSSELL: Where were you at that time?
MAJOR MERWIN: At Detroit, Michigan.
DR. RUSSELL: What were you doing in Michigan at that time?
MAJOR MERWIN: I was the agent of the Michigan State Temper-
ance Alliance at that time when Lincoln wrote for me to come to Washington.
DR. RUSSELL: What did he want you to do at Washington?
MAJOR MERWIN: He wanted to have me speak to the soldiers in
the camps about the city of Washington and other places.
DR. RUSSELL: Did you do that?
MAJOR MERWIN: I did that for four years.
DR. RUSSELL: What conveyance, if any, did you use in the early
meetings around Washington?
MAJOR MERWIN: Mr. Lincoln gave me his carriage to go here and
there, wherever necessary.
267
DR. RUSSELL: Now, in addition to your work in the temperance line
during the Civil War, what else did you do at Mr. Lincoln's request?
MAJOR MERWIN: Behaved myself.
DR. RUSSELL: What other commissions did he give you?
MAJOR MERWIN: Well, some of the regular army officers thought
that the volunteers should obey the law of the land and not give way to sepa-
rate influences, to drink, and Mr. Lincoln urged me to go before the soldiers,
and speak to them to preserve their manhood and their integrity, and not
go home wrecks as they would have gone had they yielded to drink.
DR. RUSSELL: What request did he make to you with regard to
drinking officers or inefficient officers?
MAJOR MERWIN: That was a pretty serious question, for a good
many of the officers felt as though as officers they were perfectly safe but
liquor never respects the man. It gets him.
DR. RUSSELL: Now with regard to drinking officers, did he ask
privately for reports from you with regard to the efficiency of the service
in this regard and did you give him such reports?
MAJOR MERWIN: I did as far as it was proper, perhaps, more some-
times. It was between him and me however. The regular army officers
did not like the reports and they made a fuss about it, and put every obstacle
in their way, yet Lieutenant General Winfield Scott — shall I read it?
DR. RUSSELL: Yes, you may.
MAJOR MERWIN: Lieutenant General Winfield Scott, I have the
facsimile of his letter, it says: "I esteem the mission of Mr. Merwin to this
army a happy circumstance and request all Commanders to give him free
access to our camps and posts and also to multiply occasions to enable him
to address our officers and men. — Winfield Scott."
DR. RUSSELL: So that you had a commission from General Scott in
1861 to carry forward this temperance work among the soldiers.
MAJOR MERWIN: I did.
DR. RUSSELL: That was at the request of whom?
MAJOR MERWIN: Mr. Lincoln.
DR. RUSSELL: What happened to General Scott a little while after
that date?
MAJOR MERWIN: General Scott, you know, passed away early and
the officers said: "Why that is old, that is stale, Scott died, we don't want
to hear anything more about that."
DR. RUSSELL: After he died did you have another commission issued
to cover your work?
MAJOR MERWIN: I did. And Mr. Lincoln issued that commission.
He said, "The Surgeon General will send Mr. Merwin, wherever he may think
the public service may require," that is, wherever Mr. Lincoln wanted me
to go inside the lines or outside the lines, but he charged me always to speak
for total abstinence and nothing short of that!
DR. RUSSELL: Have you the original order that Mr. Lincoln wrote?
MAJOR MERWIN: Yes, sir, I have it.
DR. RUSSELL: Please produce it.
268
%ju OU. $■ £. -v^aw fcuCJ *K
MAJOR MERWIN: I have it written with his own hands and there
is not wealth enough in the state of New Jersey and the other states of the
Union to buy it. And I have willed it to this Anti-Saloon League, which
has done so much and is doing so much good.
DR. RUSSELL: This is to be placed in the future in the Lincoln tem-
perance memorial buildings. This will be enshrined permanently in the
future according to the will of Major Merwin, which has been duly executed
already. Now, Major, I want to ask about your relation with Mr. Lincoln
in connection with his spirit of prayer during the Civil War. I'd like to
have you tell these friends about Mr. Lincoln as a praying man.
MAJOR MERWIN: Many, many times Mr. Lincoln and myself went
into his private office and he knelt down and prayed as only one could pray
that God would give him wisdom to bring this country out of its trouble into
the light and glory of American independence. We are a hundred mil-
lions of people here today my friends, not disintegrated as they arc in
the kingdoms of the old country, but a united people, and that unity
has come by virtue of what Abraham Lincoln did for the law of the country
and the people of the country by the help of the people of the country.
DR. RUSSELL: What special times were there when he was most
concerned and most anxious to have prayer with you, what special occasions,
Major Merwin, when there were defeats?
MAJOR MERWIN: When some soldiers, some officers, and God only
knows the awful toll that this country paid to the liquor traffic by the mis-
management and failure of the officers of the army. It would chill your
blood this warm day for me to stand here and tell you how these brave sol-
diers faced orders and obeyed orders when they knew that it meant certain
death. A soldier must obey orders.
DR. RUSSELL: You mean to say that some orders were given by
officers who were under the influence of liquor?
MAJOR MERWIN: That is true.
DR. RUSSELL: I want you to tell the people in connection with these
prayers, whether Mr. Lincoln himself led in prayer when you bowed
together.
MAJOR MERWIN: He did often. He says, "I must go and seek help
beyond human help. The officers have betrayed me. The officers have
failed. I must go to the infinite Father himself and lay the burden before
him," and he did over and over and over again. Lincoln was a God-fearing
man.
DR. RUSSELL: That reminds me to ask you to tell the people about
your chaplaincy which led up in a measure to this relation in prayer service.
Did Mr. Lincoln make you a Chaplain? Did he ask you to be ordained as
a minister?
MAJOR MERWIN: He did and he wrote a special letter to a friend of
his at Adrian, Michigan, asking him to ordain me but says he, "Don't spoil
him."
DR. RUSSELL: After that chaplaincy and your appointment, where
did you serve, in what parts of the field?
269
MAJOR MERWIN: Wherever Mr. Lincoln wanted me to go.
DR. RUSSELL: Was it especially in the hospitals or sometimes in
the hospitals?
MAJOR MERWIN: Yes. I served as visiting chaplain to all the hos-
pitals in the department of the East, and I have General McDougal's indorse-
ment of my work in that direction.
DR. RUSSELL: Major, I want to come back to the Illinois campaign.
The Prohibition campaign was conducted by what organization?
MAJOR MERWIN: By the Illinois State Maine Law Alliance.
DR. RUSSELL: Where were the headquarters?
MAJOR MERWIN: In Chicago.
DR. RUSSELL: Can you name some of the officers or supporters of it?
MAJOR MERWIN: Yes, I will mention one man particularly who was
very much interested in this work of Prohibition which Lincoln carried on
so successfully and vigorously, and that was William B. Ogden, at that time
president of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, and he said to me, "I
want to have you bring Mr. Lincoln in, I want to see him and talk with him
about it." When we went to call on him he gave Mr. Lincoln a check for
$2,500 and said if you need more money come to me and I will duplicate
that check cheerfully. We can better afford to meet the traffic by taking
temptations out of the way when we meet it by its results, and Mr. Lin-
coln made that so plain that we raised all the money that was necessary in
the state of Illinois. He says, "You have got to meet this one way or the
other. You have got to meet it by taking temptation out of the way, or you
have got to meet it by furnishing recruits to keep this army of drunkards
good, and the better way common sense teaches us," Mr. Lincoln said, "is to
take the temptation out of the way by prohibiting the liquor traffic." I
want that settled. I want these evangels of the press to speak to the
hundred millions of people of Lincoln as a Prohibitionist. I am tired
of this everlasting rehearsal that Lincoln "set up" here and there, whisky.
He was at one time in company with a man, in a grocery, who insisted
that they sell whisky and when Lincoln reproved him, the man would
not stop, Lincoln withdrew and had more than a thousand dollars of the
debts to pay. Lincoln said, it was a conscience debt of his. He worked
ten years to pay it, and paid every dollar of it with interest.
DR. RUSSELL: Now it is a fact, then, that Mr. Lincoln took part in
the preliminary agitation, took part in the submission of the question to
the people and co-operated in campaigns by many speakers in different parts
of the state of Illinois?
MAJOR MERWIN: All over the state. I know it because I was with
him day after day and night after night. And also after the campaign
ended when he made me a present of this.
DR. RUSSELL: Have you anything in your possession relating to that
campaign which you can show the people?
MAJOR MERWIN: Yes, I have it here.
DR. RUSSELL: Where did the watch come from?
MAJOR MERWIN: I suppose it is an English watch. It was a pres-
' ent to me from friends of temperance in Chicago, and Mr. Lincoln, at tha,t
270
time, in 1855, clearly saw that we must prohibit the liquor traffic, and Mr.
Lincoln wrote the inscription that was put into that watch.
DR. RUSSELL: What is the inscription?
MAJOR MERWIN: "Presented by the friends of temperance in
Chicago to J. B. Mcrwin, corresponding secretary of the Illinois Maine
Law Alliance, as a token of their confidence and regard for his untiring ener-
gy and p'erseverence in its campaign, 1855, for Prohibition." I want to fix in
your mind, brethren and sisters, that Mr. Lincoln then and there, without
any solicitation or prompting upon the part of anyone, drew this inscription
that is on the watch.
DR. RUSSELL: Now, Major, let's come back for a moment to Wash-
ington again. I want you to tell the people about that Grant story.
MAJOR MERWIN: You know the story is that when Grant had won
some victory that some people were complaining about Grant's drinking
habits, and the story goes that Mr. Lincoln only said: "Well, I would like
to know what brand of liquor it is so that I can get some for some of the
other Generals." Now the facts are that Lincoln had that marvelously
wonderful ready capacity that if there was no story to illustrate the point
on the spot, to conceive it and tell it as though it was original. When Lin-
coln denied that he had made that statement, he said: "I am not obliged to
resort to a story that was two hundred years old before I was born." That
is the fact about that story, Abraham Lincoln instead of saying that he
wanted to know where Grant got his whisky, that he might send a barrel to
some of the Generals. He said, he did not say it and that was an old
story two hundred years before he was born. He never was guilty of per-
petrating or telling any such incidents as that, because the toll was too
heavy on his soul and on the soul of the mothers and fathers who sent their
boys to the war from the results of drinking.
DR. RUSSELL: Do you want us to understand that Mr. Lincoln didn't
say that? It went out as a false statement in the press made up by some-
body which Mr. Lincoln disowned, and had recalled that it was told by
somebody 200 years before he was born, and that he didn't say any such
thing. That is simply a false statement in itself.
MAJOR MERWIN: That is correct and I wish the papers could state
that fact so distinctly and clearly and plainly that the people, the hundred
millions that we are, might know it.
DR. RUSSELL: Now, let us come to the last three days of Mr. Lin-
coln's life and your relation to him at that time and the last words that he
spoke to you before you parted from him. Will you give us the narrative
of the three days briefly.
MAJOR MERWIN: The war had closed, Lee had surrendered. It
was on the great heart of Lincoln, "What shall we do! What shall we do
with the nearly 200,000 colored soldiers with arms in their hands." Ben
Butler says: "I can suggest to you a proposition that will relieve you."
"Well," Lincoln says, "it will relieve me very much." He says: "The thing
to do with the colored soldiers is to dig the Panama Canal and we shall own
as we must own, ultimately that canal and the thing to do with the colored
271
.
f
jLcL>
4
soldiers is to dig the Panama Canal with them as a military measure," and
he sent me to Greeley to know whether Greeley would consent to it.
DR. RUSSELL: Were you engaged in the preparation of that, upon
the last morning of Mr. Lincoln's life?
MAJOR MERWIN: We started to write it in the evening but the
pressure was so great in front that his mind wasn't quite clear and he
says: "Come tomorrow morning and we will write the thing and I will get
it clear." I went the next morning, and he wrote on it. That is how I come
to dine with him that day that he was assassinated. I was there to hear his
message with regard to digging the Panama Canal with the colored troops.
DR. RUSSELL: Were you present when anything was said about the
meeting at Ford Theater at that night?
MAJOR MERWIN: Why yes. Will you please, while I tell it to you
in an honest, humble way, please, to remember that Mr. Lincoln said to his
wife, "Mary, I do not think we ought to go to the theater this evening be-
cause it is with a great many of our best people in the country a sacred day."
Mrs. Lincoln said she didn't think anything about that nor care anything
about it. She was going. The Ford Theater people had tendered, for them,
the use of a box. Then he said again: "Mary, it seems to me that it is not
a proper thing for us to go to theaters upon a religious day, Good Friday,"
and he was very conscientious about it, but she said that they were going
and that ended it.
DR. RUSSELL: Now, state, please the last words Mr. Lincoln said to
you before he parted from you that day, as you parted from him to go on
the commission to Greeley and said, "Good-bye" what did he say in parting?
MAJOR MERWIN: He said: "Merwin, with the help of the people
we have cleaned up a colossal job. I prophesied 25 years ago that the day
would come when there would be no slaves and no drunkards in the land.
1 have lived to see one of those prophecies fulfilled. The next movement
on the part of the people will be the suppression of the liquor traffic by law,"
Said I, Mr. Lincoln, that seems to me a very important statement. Shall
I publish it as from you? Mr. Lincoln turned, and says he, "Merwin, pub-
lish that as broad as the daylight shines."
DR. RUSSELL: Thank you. Mr. Chairman, if anyone wants to ask
any questions, it will be in order.
MAJOR MERWIN: If any one wants to ask any questions I will ans-
wer them briefly. I hope the papers will stop this constant reiteration on
the part of those engaged in the liquor traffic in stating that Lincoln didn't
believe in Prohibition. He believed in it as profoundly as he believed in his
own being.
A DELEGATE: Mr. Merwin, will you tell me how you know Mr. Lin-
coln wrote that Prohibition law for Illinois?
MAJOR MERWIN: Yes, with great pleasure, too, because he said of
it when it was written: "I know it will hold water, but I want to know
whether it will hold whisky or not." He sent me to 25 or 30 of the lead-
ing judges and lawyers of the state of Illinois with a copy of that law
to submit to them to see whether it would hold Prohibition and be
272
effective. I thank you very much for tin's opportunity to look into your
faces and tell you these facts modestly ahout Lincoln, as I knew them from
actual ohservation day after day and week after week, and year after year.
AMERICA'S GREATEST SHAME
By Rev. Homer W. Tope, U.D., of Philadelphia
Four hundred years ago a remarkable scene was enacted on this Amer-
ican continent that had far-reaching and mighty results in the formation
and development of American civilization. On the Isthmus of Panama stood
a little band of soldiers, dismayed by the dread silence of the vast wilder-
ness, disheartened by the difficulties of the craggy Andes, and discouraged
by other obstacles, not seen, which rumor brought to their ears. One man,
alone, stemmed the tide of defeated purposes. He was the leader. Step-
ping to the front, he drew with his sword a line running east and west on
the sand, and, pointing to the south, said:
"Soldiers, on that side of the line are toil, hunger, nakedness, the
drenching storm, battle and death; on that side," pointing to the north, "lies
ease and safety. But on the south lies Peru and its untold wealth; on the
north, Panama and its poverty. Choose, each man, what best becomes a
brave Castillian. For my part, I go to the south."
Having said this, he stepped to the southern side of the line. Twelve
soldiers, a muleteer, and a minister of religion joined him; the rest went
aboard their ship and returned to Panama. Nothing has ever been heard
of those who returned, but the exploits of Pizarro and his little band won
the best of South America for their King, gained a wonderful prestige in
their day, and .inscribed their names in great capitals in that book which
numbers its pages by centuries. They made the choice between shameful
defeat and cowardice on the one hand and victory and power on the other.
Crucial Moment Arrives
To the American citizen, ,in various times of history, has come that same
crucial moment. In the convention of Virginia of 1775, in old St. John's
Church, Richmond, when the colony was trembling in balance between the
shame of suhmisson to the mother country's oppressions and thorough in-
dependence, the choice again rang out in the memorable words of Patrick
Henry: "There is no retreat but in submission and slavery. I know not
what course others may take, but, as for me — give me liberty or give me
death;" and the fame of Henry is as eternal as the great American common-
wealth which he so largely aided in forming.
Now, in every age there is some great burning question of the hour, and
only one, that overshadows every other, the crucial one of the times, one
that underlies, as a basis, every other problem, the settlement 6f which de-
pends upon the choice of the citizen.
Choice Must Be Made
In every case it .is a choice between shame and degradation on the one
hand, and justice, righteousness, power and glory on the other. All other
things are subsidiary to it. In the colonial days it was freedom from for-
273
eign oppression. In later times, it was for the freedom of our citizens on
the high seas, that no American should be impressed into the service of an
alien power. In more modern period, within our remembrance, we an-
swered, in the Spanish war, the old question of Cain in the affirmative, that
we are our brother's keeper. We placed ourselves on record that as long as
a free heart pulsates in the American nation and while she retains her iron
thews and sinewy strength the downtrodden and oppressed everywhere shall
see a rainbow of hope in the flash of the American saber and in the detona-
ting roar of her artillery the thunder of God's wrath on the heads of those
despots whose iron heels are crushing them into the mire.
What is the great flaming question of the present, at the basis of every
problem of the times, that presents itself to every citizen, however humble,
than that crime of all crimes, the breeder of poverty, the mother of all shame
and sorrow, the despoiler of the home, the curse of suffering wife and child,
and the bitter enemy of God — the legalized liquor traffic of today?
On the brow of our great country rests the diadem of supreme wealth
and prosperity; with raised arm, and seen of all the world, she holds aloft
the torch of liberty and equality; by her side is girded the sword of intel-
ligence and education; her feet are shod with the Gospel of truth and right-
eousness; but — a shameful thing — her beautiful garments are befouled by
the pollutions of the monster, drink, whose slimy trail, leading 'back to the
dawn of recorded time, is marked all along with tears and blood, with dev-
astation and death. Upon the back of this monster rides every problem
which causes us the twinge of shame. We are troubled by the high price of
living, perplexed by the masses of the unemployed, worried by the contest
of capital and labor, grieved by the evidence of poverty in a land of plenty,
and shocked by the ramifications of the social evil. The liquor traffic is
the basic force neath all.
Shameful Contrasts
What patriotic American is there today but proudly asserts his nation
possesses the acme of civilization and is in the van of all progress; and that,
cryptic in our humanity, is the best of all time and clime. And quite rightly
so. Yet when I consider that other peoples, with less opportunity, poorer
enlightenment, and miserable environment have forged ahead of us in this
vital question; that heathen Sparta, as Plato asserted, banished all drunken-
ness and debauchery from her territory, that the ancient Germans, accord-
ing to Froude, were admired by Caesar for "their abstinence from wine;''
that the infidel Mohammedans have a positive general law adjuring all liquor
and drunkenness — aye, have had it since the days of Mahomet; that be-
nighted Russia has utterly banished liquor from her territories; that Ice-
land has utterly cast it out, — when these things come before me I must say
with Shakespeare's Dtuphin:
"Reproach and everlasting shame
Sits mocking in our plumes."
This Moloch of the liquor traffic has burdened our prosperity with a
weight of woe and crippled the finances of our people with a burden of
debt for which there is no return save a Dead Sea of desolation. It has been
estimated that the annual liquor bill of our country is two and a half bil»
274
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HORN
tju^'^imb
294-
MADF IN U.S.A
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