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

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 329"Now that the Rebellion is overthrown, and we know pretty nearly theamount of our National debt, the more gold and silver we mine, we makethe payment of that debt so much easier."Now I am going to encourage that in every possible way. We shall havehundreds of thousands of disbanded soldiers, and many have feared thattheir return home in such great numbers might paralyze industry byfurnishing, suddenly, a greater supply of labor than there will be demandfor. I am going to try to attract them to the hidden wealth of our mountainranges, where there is room enough for all. Immigration, which even theWar has not stopped, will land upon our shores hundreds of thousands moreper year from overcrowded Europe. I intend to point them to the gold andsilver that wait for them in the West."Tell the miners for me that I shall promote their interests to the utmost ofmy ability; because their prosperity as the prosperity of the nation; and,"said he, his eye kindling with enthusiasm, "we shall prove, in a very fewyears, that we are indeed the treasury of the world.""ON THE LORD'S SIDE."President Lincoln made a significant remark to a clergyman in the earlydays of the War."Let us have faith, Mr. President," said the minister, "that the Lord is on ourside in this great struggle."Mr. Lincoln quietly answered: "I am not at all concerned about that, for Iknow that the Lord is always on the side of the right; but it is my constantanxiety and prayer that I and this nation may be on the Lord's side."WANTED TO BE NEAR "ABE."It was Lincoln's custom to hold an informal reception once a week, eachcaller taking his turn.