Martyr
President fell at the hands of the assassin, J. Wilkes Booth.

"I CAN STAND IT IF THEY CAN."

United States Senator Benjamin Wade, of Ohio, Henry Winter Davis,
of Maryland, and Wendell Phillips were strongly opposed to President
Lincoln's re-election, and Wade and Davis issued a manifesto. Phillips
made several warm speeches against Lincoln and his policy.

When asked if he had read the manifesto or any of Phillips' speeches,
the President replied:

"I have not seen them, nor do I care to see them. I have seen enough to
satisfy me that I am a failure, not only in the opinion of the people
in rebellion, but of many distinguished politicians of my own party. But
time will show whether I am right or they are right, and I am content to
abide its decision.

"I have enough to look after without giving much of my time to the
consideration of the subject of who shall be my successor in office. The
position is not an easy one; and the occupant, whoever he may be, for
the next four years, will have little leisure to pluck a thorn or plant
a rose in his own pathway."

It was urged that this opposition must be embarrassing to his
Administration, as well as damaging to the party. He replied: "Yes, that
is true; but our friends, Wade, Davis, Phillips, and others are hard
to please. I am not capable of doing so. I cannot please them without
wantonly violating not only my oath, but the most vital principles upon
which our government was founded.

"As to those who, like Wade and the rest, see fit to depreciate my
policy and cavil at my official acts, I shall not complain of them. I
accord them the utmost freedom of speech and liberty of the press, but
shall not change the policy I have adopted in the full belief that I am
right.

"I feel on this subject as an old Illinois farmer once expressed himself
while eating cheese. He was interrupted in the midst of his repast by
the entrance of his son, who exclaimed, 'Hold on, dad! there's skippers
in that cheese you're eating!'

"'Never mind, Tom,' said he, as he kept on munching his cheese, 'if they
can stand it I can.'"

LINCOLN MISTAKEN FOR ONCE.

President Lincoln was compelled to acknowledge that he made at least one
mistake in "sizing up" men. One day a very dignified man called at the
White House, and Lincoln's heart fell when his visitor approached. The
latter was portly, his face was full of apparent anxiety, and Lincoln
was willing to wager a year's