Show premier or president an astonishing revelation is made in the february installment of the century life of lincoln in regard to the relations between sir lincoln and mr seward it seems that soon after Lincol ns inauguration mr seward made a proposition to him which if accepted would not only have radically changed the policy of the administration but would also have been a virtual surrender of the presidency to the secretary of state the remarkable correspondence is given in full in the century nicolay and hay state as follows so far as is known the affair never reached the knowledge of any other gombor of the cabinet or oven tho most intimate of the presidents friends nor was it probably ever again alluded to by either lincoln or seward doubtless it needed only tho presidents note to show the secretary of state how serious a fault he had committed for all his tireless industry and undivided influence continued to be given for four long years to his chief not only without reserve but with a sincere and devoted personal attachment lincoln on hia part easily dismissed the incident from his thought with that grand and characteristic charity which sought only to cherish the the virtues of men which readily recognized the strength and acknowledged the services of his secretary to whom he unselfishly gave to his own last days his generous and unwavering trust |