_About the same date. A meeting of the Cabinet at Washington_. SMITH
_has gone and_ CAMERON _has been replaced by_ EDWIN M. STANTON,
_Secretary of War. Otherwise the ministry, completed by_ SEWARD,
CHASE, HOOK, BLAIR, _and_ WELLES, _is as before. They are now
arranging themselves at the table, leaving_ LINCOLN'S _place empty.
Seward (coming in_): I've just had my summons. Is there some special
news?
_Stanton_: Yes. McClellan has defeated Lee at Antietam. It's our
greatest success. They ought not to recover from it. The tide is
turning.
_Blair_: Have you seen the President?
_Stanton_: I've just been with him.
_Welles_: What does he say?
_Stanton_: He only said, "At last." He's coming directly.
_Hook_: He will bring up his proclamation again. In my opinion it is
inopportune.
_Seward_: Well, we've learnt by now that the President is the best man
among us.
_Hook_: There's a good deal of feeling against him everywhere, I find.
_Blair_: He's the one man with character enough for this business.
_Hook_: There are other opinions.
_Seward_: Yes, but not here, surely.
_Hook_: It's not for me to say. But I ask you, what does he mean about
emancipation? I've always understood that it was the Union we were
fighting for, and that abolition was to be kept in our minds for
legislation at the right moment. And now one day he talks as though
emancipation were his only concern, and the next as though he would
throw up the whole idea, if by doing it he could secure peace with the
establishment of the Union. Where are we?
_Seward_: No, you're wrong. It's the Union first now with him,
but there's no question about his views on slavery. You know that
perfectly well. But he has always kept his policy about slavery free
in his mind, to be directed as he thought best for the sake of the
Union. You remember his words: "If I could save the Union without
freeing any slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing
all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some
and leaving others alone, I would also do that. My paramount object
in this struggle is to save the Union." Nothing could be plainer than
that, just as nothing could be plainer than his determination to free
the slaves when he can.
_Hook_: Well, there are some who would have acted differently.
_Blair_: And you may depend upon it they would not have acted so
wisely.
_Stanton_: I don't altogether agree with the President. But he's the
only man I should agree with at all.
_Hook_: To issue the proclamation now, and that's what he will
propose, mark my words, will be to confuse the public mind just when
we want to keep it clear.
_Welles_: Are you sure he will propose to issue it now?
_Hook_: You see if he doesn't.
_Welles_: If he does I shall support him.
_Seward_: Is Lee's army broken?
_Stanton_: Not yet--but it is in grave danger.
_Hook_: Why doesn't the President come? One would think this news was
nothing.
_Chase_: I must say I'm anxious to know what he has to say about it
all.
A CLERK _comes in_.
_Clerk_: The President's compliments, and he will be here in a moment.
_He goes_.
_Hook_: I shall oppose it if it comes up.
_Chase_: He may say nothing about it.
_Seward_: I think he will.
_Stanton_: Anyhow, it's the critical moment.
_Blair_: Here he comes.
LINCOLN _comes in carrying a small book_.
_Lincoln_: Good-morning, gentlemen.
_He takes his place_.
_The Ministers_: Good-morning, Mr. President.
_Seward_: Great news, we hear.
_Hook_: If we leave things with the army to take their course for a
little now, we ought to see through our difficulties.
_Lincoln_: It's an exciting morning, gentlemen. I feel rather excited
myself. I find my mind not at its best in excitement. Will you allow
me?
_Opening his book_.
It may compose us all. It is Mr. Artemus Ward's latest.
THE MINISTERS, _with the exception of_ HOOK, _who makes no attempt to
hide his irritation, and_ STANTON, _who would do the same but for
his disapproval of_ HOOK, _listen with good-humoured patience and
amusement while he reads the following passage from Artemus Ward_.
"High Handed Outrage at Utica."
"In the Faul of 1856, I showed my show in Utiky, a trooly grate city
in the State of New York. The people gave me a cordyal recepshun. The
press was loud in her prases. 1 day as I was givin a descripshun of
my Beests and Snaiks in my usual flowry stile what was my skorn and
disgust to see a big burly feller walk up to the cage containin my wax
figgers of the Lord's last Supper, and cease Judas Iscarrot by the
feet and drag him out on the ground. He then commenced fur to pound
him as hard as he cood."
"'What under the son are you abowt,' cried I."
"Sez he, 'What did you bring this pussylanermus cuss here fur?' and he
hit the wax figger another tremenjis blow on the bed."
"Sez I, 'You egrejus ass, that airs a wax figger--a representashun of
the false 'Postle.'"
"Sez he, 'That's all very well fur you to say; but I tell you, old
man, that Judas Iscarrot can't show himself in Utiky with impunerty
by a darn site,' with which observashun he kaved in Judassis hed. The
young man belonged to 1 of the first famerlies in Utiky. I sood him,
and the Joory brawt in a verdick of Arson in the 3d degree."
_Stanton_: May we now consider affairs of state?
_Hook_: Yes, we may.
_Lincoln_: Mr. Hook says, yes, we may.
_Stanton_: Thank you.
_Lincoln_: Oh, no. Thank Mr. Hook.
_Seward_: McClellan is in pursuit of Lee, I suppose.
_Lincoln_: You suppose a good deal. But for the first time McClellan
has the chance of being in pursuit of Lee, and that's the first sign
of their end. If McClellan doesn't take his chance, we'll move Grant
down to the job. That will mean delay, but no matter. The mastery has
changed hands.
_Blair_: Grant drinks.
_Lincoln_: Then tell me the name of his brand. I'll send some barrels
to the others. He wins victories.
_Hook_: Is there other business?
_Lincoln_: There is. Some weeks ago I showed you a draft I made
proclaiming freedom for all slaves.
_Hook (aside to Welles_): I told you so.
_Lincoln_: You thought then it was not the time to issue it. I agreed.
I think the moment has come. May I read it to you again? "It is
proclaimed that on the first day of January in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves
within any state, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion
against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever
free." That allows three months from to-day. There are clauses dealing
with compensation in a separate draft.
_Hook_: I must oppose the issue of such a proclamation at this moment
in the most unqualified terms. This question should be left until
our victory is complete. To thrust it forward now would be to invite
dissension when we most need unity.
_Welles_: I do not quite understand, Mr. President, why you think this
the precise moment.
_Lincoln_: Believe me, gentlemen, I have considered this matter with
all the earnestness and understanding of which I am capable.
_Hook_: But when the "New York Tribune" urged you to come forward with
a clear declaration six months ago, you rebuked them.
_Lincoln_: Because I thought the occasion not the right one. It was
useless to issue a proclamation that might be as inoperative as the
Pope's bull against the comet. My duty, it has seemed to me, has been
to be loyal to a principle, and not to betray it by expressing it in
action at the wrong time. That is what I conceive statesmanship to be.
For long now I have had two fixed resolves. To preserve the Union, and
to abolish slavery. How to preserve the Union I was always clear, and
more than two years of bitterness have not dulled my vision. We have
fought for the Union, and we are now winning for the Union. When and
how to proclaim abolition I have all this time been uncertain. I am
uncertain no longer. A few weeks ago I saw that, too, clearly. So
soon, I said to myself, as the rebel army shall be driven out of
Maryland, and it becomes plain to the world that victory is assured
to us in the end, the time will have come to announce that with that
victory and a vindicated Union will come abolition. I made the promise
to myself--and to my Maker. The rebel army is now driven out, and I am
going to fulfil that promise. I do not wish your advice about the main
matter, for that I have determined for myself. This I say without
intending anything but respect for any one of you. But I beg you to
stand with me in this thing.
_Hook_: In my opinion, it's altogether too impetuous.
_Lincoln_: One other observation I will make. I know very well that
others might in this matter, as in others, do better than I can, and
if I was satisfied that the public confidence was more fully possessed
by any one of them than by me, and knew of any constitutional way in
which he could be put in my place, he should have it. I would gladly
yield it to him. But, though I cannot claim undivided confidence, I do
not know that, all things considered, any other person has more; and,
however this may be, there is no way in which I can have any other
man put where I am. I am here; I must do the best I can, and bear the
responsibility of taking the course which I feel I ought to take.
_Stanton_: Could this be left over a short time for consideration?
_Chase_: I feel that we should remember that our only public cause at
the moment is the preservation of the Union.
_Hook_: I entirely agree.
_Lincoln_: Gentlemen, we cannot escape history. We of this
administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal
significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. In
giving freedom to the slave we assure freedom to the free. We shall
nobly save or meanly lose the last, best hope on earth.
_He places the proclamation in front of him_.
"Shall be thenceforward and forever free."
Gentlemen, I pray for your support.
_He signs it_.
THE MINISTERS _rise_. SEWARD, WELLES, _and_ BLAIR _shake_ LINCOLN'S
_hand and go out_. STANTON _and_ CHASE _bow to him, and follow_. HOOK,
_the last to rise, moves away, making no sign.
Lincoln:_ Hook.
_Hook_: Yes, Mr. President.
_Lincoln_: Hook, one cannot help hearing things.
_Hook_: I beg your pardon?
_Lincoln_: Hook, there's a way some people have, when a man says a
disagreeable thing, of asking him to repeat it, hoping to embarrass
him. It's often effective. But I'm not easily embarrassed. I said one
cannot help hearing things.
_Hook_: And I do not understand what you mean, Mr. President.
_Lincoln_: Come, Hook, we're alone. Lincoln is a good enough name. And
I think you understand.
_Hook_: How should I?
_Lincoln_: Then, plainly, there are intrigues going on.
_Hook_: Against the government?
_Lincoln_: No. In it. Against me.
_Hook_: Criticism, perhaps.
_Lincoln_: To what end? To better my ways?
_Hook_: I presume that might be the purpose.
_Lincoln_: Then, why am I not told what it is?
_Hook_: I imagine it's a natural compunction.
_Lincoln_: Or ambition?
_Hook_: What do you mean?
_Lincoln_: You think you ought to be in my place.
_Hook_: You are well informed.
_Lincoln_: You cannot imagine why every one does not see that you
ought to be in my place.
_Hook_: By what right do you say that?
_Lincoln_: Is it not true?
_Hook_: You take me unprepared. You have me at a disadvantage.
_Lincoln_: You speak as a very scrupulous man, Hook.
_Hook_: Do you question my honour?
_Lincoln_: As you will.
_Hook_: Then I resign.
_Lincoln_: As a protest against...?
_Hook_: Your suspicion.
_Lincoln_: It is false?
_Hook_: Very well, I will be frank. I mistrust your judgment.
_Lincoln_: In what?
_Hook_: Generally. You over-emphasise abolition.
_Lincoln_: You don't mean that. You mean that you fear possible public
feeling against abolition.
_Hook_: It must be persuaded, not forced.
_Lincoln_: All the most worthy elements in it are persuaded. But the
ungenerous elements make the most noise, and you hear them only.
You will run from the terrible name of Abolitionist even when it is
pronounced by worthless creatures whom you know you have every reason
to despise.
_Hook_: You have, in my opinion, failed in necessary firmness in
saying what will be the individual penalties of rebellion.
_Lincoln_: This is a war. I will not allow it to become a blood-feud.
_Hook_: We are fighting treason. We must meet it with severity.
_Lincoln_: We will defeat treason. And I will meet it with
conciliation.
_Hook_: It is a policy of weakness.
_Lincoln_: It is a policy of faith--it is a policy of compassion.
_(Warmly_.) Hook, why do you plague me with these jealousies? Once
before I found a member of my Cabinet working behind my back. But
he was disinterested, and he made amends nobly. But, Hook, you have
allowed the burden of these days to sour you. I know it all. I've
watched you plotting and plotting for authority. And I, who am a
lonely man, have been sick at heart. So great is the task God has
given to my hand, and so few are my days, and my deepest hunger is
always for loyalty in my own house. You have withheld it from me. You
have done great service in your office, but you have grown envious.
Now you resign, as you did once before when I came openly to you in
friendship. And you think that again I shall flatter you and coax you
to stay. I don't think I ought to do it. I will not do it. I must take
you at your word.
_Hook_: I am content.
_He turns to go_.
_Lincoln_: Will you shake hands?
_Hook_: I beg you will excuse me.
_He goes_. LINCOLN _stands silently for a moment, a travelled, lonely
captain. He rings a bell, and a_ CLERK _comes in.
Lincoln:_ Ask Mr. Hay to come in.
_Clerk_: Yes, sir.
_He goes_. LINCOLN, _from the folds of his pockets, produces another
book, and holds it unopened_. HAY _comes in_.
_Lincoln_: I'm rather tired to-day, Hay. Read to me a little. (_He
hands him the book_.) "The Tempest"--you know the passage.
_Hay (reading)_:
Our revels now are ended; these our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air;
And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.
_Lincoln_: We are such stuff As dreams are made on, and our little
life ...
THE CURTAIN FALLS.
_First Chronicler_: Two years again.
Desolation of battle, and long debate,
Counsels and prayers of men,
And bitterness of destruction and witless hate,
And the shame of lie contending with lie,
Are spending themselves, and the brain
That set its lonely chart four years gone by,
Knowing the word fulfilled,
Comes with charity and communion to bring
To reckoning,
To reconcile and build.
_The two together_: What victor coming from the field
Leaving the victim desolate,
But has a vulnerable shield
Against the substances of fate?
That battle's won that leads in chains
But retribution and despite,
And bids misfortune count her gains
Not stricken in a penal night.
His triumph is but bitterness
Who looks not to the starry doom
When proud and humble but possess
The little kingdom of the tomb.
Who, striking home, shall not forgive,
Strikes with a weak returning rod,
Claiming a fond prerogative
Against the armoury of God.
Who knows, and for his knowledge stands
Against the darkness in dispute,
And dedicates industrious hands,
And keeps a spirit resolute,
Prevailing in the battle, then
A steward of his word is made,
To bring it honour among men,
Or know his captaincy betrayed.