LINCOLN
Well, I"ll not pretend that I didn"t understand the seriousness of that hour. The Army _was_ behind you, to a man! I sounded the officers, I sounded the men. They were against me and with you. If the leaders had dared risk their necks on a revolution, they might have won and set up a Dictatorship!
McCLELLAN
Just so!
LINCOLN
This power over men which you possess, General McClellan, is a marvelous thing. It is a dangerous force. It can be used to create a Nation, or destroy one. Because you held this power over your men, I honestly believed you were the ablest General in sight, and I called you back to your high position.
McCLELLAN
[_With a smile._]
Very kind!
LINCOLN
You had to win or lose at Antietam. If you had won I was vindicated, and your success would have been mine! But when Lee"s army escaped, you lost the power over the imagination of your men, the threat of a Dictatorship had pa.s.sed--the supremacy of the civil government was restored, and I removed you from command----
McCLELLAN
[_Angrily._]
I repeat that your act was one of foul injustice!
LINCOLN
[_Cordially._]
All right then. I"ve given you my side. Granted for the sake of argument that I have treated you unfairly, I"m going to put you to a supreme test. I am going to propose, on a certain condition, to the man whom I have wronged, an amazing thing----
McCLELLAN
Hence the secrecy with which I am summoned!
LINCOLN
Yes. I have just written out on this sheet of paper----
[_Takes up the sheet._]
and addressed to Henry Raymond, Chairman of our National Committee, my resignation as a Candidate for the Presidency for a second term--and I will give it to him to-night, if you will agree to take my place and _save_ the Union?
McCLELLAN
[_Overwhelmed with excitement._]
What-can-you-mean----?
LINCOLN
Exactly what I"ve said.
McCLELLAN
[_Paces the floor trembling._]
And your conditions----?
LINCOLN
Very simple. Agree to preside to-morrow night at a great Democratic Union Ma.s.s Meeting in New York, and boldly put yourself at the head of that wing of your party which stands for the preservation of the Union----
McCLELLAN
And you----?
LINCOLN
I will withdraw from the race, secure your endors.e.m.e.nt, or prevent my party from naming a successor, take the stump for you and guarantee your election.
McCLELLAN
[_Studies_ LINCOLN _a moment with suspicion._]
You are in earnest----?
LINCOLN
I was never more so.
McCLELLAN
And there is no string to this offer?
LINCOLN
On my word of honor----
[_Dreamily._]
It is needless for me to say that I came into this office with high ambitions to serve my country. My dream of glory may be at an end and I have left only the agony and the tears----
[_He pauses, breathes deeply, and struggles with his emotions, recovers himself, and goes on wistfully._]
I did want a chance to stay here for another term to see the sun shine again, to heal my country"s wounds, and show all the people, North, South, East and West, that I love them. But I can"t risk the chances of this election--if you and I can come to a perfect understanding, and you agree to take my place upon the solemn pledge to save the Union without division. I"ve made up my mind to this, because I have on my desk here a report from our Secret Service----