warmth.) 'I will not let them succeed. The Lord, in
his own good time, will raise up and develop some man of great genius as
a commander, and I am now patiently waiting for that time. I cannot put
these men aside now. The country would sympathize with them and feel
that I do not know as much about war as they do; but they will tell the
tale on themselves very soon, and then we will be completely justified
in getting rid of them. This war must go on for some time yet if the
Union is to be restored, and I have faith that it will be; but I am just
now bothered more about the condition in the rear than in the front;
that will come out all right in time. But if these Golden Circle
organizations spread, as they seem to be doing, in the West, where a
great portion of our troops must come from, and the people should once
get the idea fixed in their minds that the war must be a failure, and a
fire in the rear is started of great proportions, then what? Then will
come the serious question. And should the people pronounce at the next
election against a further prosecution of the war, there will be a
secret understanding with those who come into power that the so-called
Confederacy is to be recognized, and that will be the end.'

"'But, Mr. President, do you look for such a result?' I asked.

"'No, sir,' responded the President; 'I was only putting the worst side
of the case--just as I would look at the worst side of a client's case
in court. The people of this country love this republic too well to see
it go down marred and destroyed merely for the purpose of upholding the
crime and infamy of slavery. No, gentlemen, this Union will be restored.
All the rebels of the South, and all the sympathizers and Golden Circles
of the North cannot destroy it so long as there is one patriot left
qualified to lead an army. They will have to burn every city and
assassinate every leading man who is able to be a leader before our flag
will go down in gloom and disgrace. This they may try. God only knows
what desperate men will do to uphold an unholy cause.'"

"How prophetic this thought was," said Dr. Adams.

"Yes, it was really so. The very things mentioned were attempted, and
an organization completed for the purpose. They accomplished a part
of their hellish design, but they did not succeed to the extent
contemplated.

"But to return to the conversation with the President and Secretary:

"The President then asked me if I would, in my own