''Abe'' Lincoln's Yarns and Stories - University of Macau Library

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 132conference or special duty, and he issued the strictest orders from time totime to drive the throng of military idlers from the capital and keep them attheir posts. He was stern to savagery in his enforcement of military law.The wearied sentinel who slept at his post found no mercy in the heart ofStanton, and many times did Lincoln's humanity overrule his fiery minister."Any neglect of military duty was sure of the swiftest punishment, andseldom did he make even just allowance for inevitable military disaster. Hehad profound, unfaltering faith in the Union cause, and, above all, he hadunfaltering faith in himself."He believed that he was in all things except in name Commander-in-Chiefof the armies and the navy of the nation, and it was with unconcealedreluctance that he at times deferred to the authority of the President."THE NEGRO AND THE CROCODILE.In one of his political speeches, Judge Douglas made use of the followingfigure of speech: "As between the crocodile and the negro, I take the side ofthe negro; but as between the negro and the white man--I would go for thewhite man every time."Lincoln, at home, noted that; and afterwards, when he had occasion to referto the remark, he said: "I believe that this is a sort of proposition inproportion, which may be stated thus: 'As the negro is to the white man, sois the crocodile to the negro; and as the negro may rightfully treat thecrocodile as a beast or reptile, so the white man may rightfully treat thenegro as a beast or reptile.'"LINCOLN WAS READY TO FIGHT.On one occasion, Colonel Baker was speaking in a court-house, which hadbeen a storehouse, and, on making some remarks that were offensive tocertain political rowdies in the crowd, they cried: "Take him off the stand!"