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Show WHY LINCOLN WAS ASSASSINATED. ASSAS-SINATED. Among the chosen friends of John Wilkes Booth's boyhood Fas a dush-ing, dush-ing, chivalrous young man named Jno. Y. Beal, whrwo home was in the beautiful Shenandoah valley not tar from Winchester. Damon and Pythias were not moro attached to each other than were Booth and Beal. Lieal was southern in his sympathies, and planned raids oq northern cities, and :U last was captured at or near Buffalo, tried for piracy on northern lakes, and sentenced to be hanged on Bedlou's island. One afternoon, in the ci'.y of Wash ington, while Beal was under sentence of death, there alighted from a carriage car-riage two men, who wAiked into the room occupied by Washington McLean Mc-Lean of Cincinnati, who was at the time in Washington in the interest of his business. These men who called were Senator Hide of New Hampshire Hamp-shire and John Wilkes Booth. Booth w-s anxious to save the life of Beal. his chum and confidential personal friend. He had interested Mr. Hale in Ids behalf. They importuned MuLean to go with them to the president, as a democrat dem-ocrat as a friend of Booth a a in an who had much influence with Mr. Lincoln, at.d to vouch with Mr. HaIc for any promises Booth might mate in return for tiiis great favor to him. After a protracted interview McLean accompanied Halo and Booth in a carriage to the residence of John W. Forney, who was then in bed, the hour being late. Forney was awakened awak-ened from his sleep and told the object ob-ject of his call. Hi sympathies won: enlisted, as he was always ready to servo his friends. It was an hour or more pAat midnight mid-night when Hal., Forney, McLean, and Booth wore driven to ttiu White houe. The guard, at the request ol Forney, admitted the carriage to the ground?. Mr. Lincoln was called from bis sleep, and there, in the dead of night, ho sal nnd listened to the pray em of Booth and the endorse ments of those who came with him to ask the favor of executive clemency. This interview lasted till 4 in the morning. It way one of tears, pray-ern, pray-ern, and petition. There was not a dry eye in the room as Booth knelt at the feet of Lincoln, clasped his knees with hiB hand, and begged him to spare the life of one man a personal friend who, in serving the ones he loved, had come to tho door of death. Booth tolil all. He told how. long before, in a lit of passion to do nome bold deed, lie had joined in a ennspi racy to altduct the president and to hold him a hotdago for the release of certain military priisonerj who were B oth's friends, and who, it wan thought, were to tie shot. He told of tho meetings they had held at the hoiise of Mis. Surratt, and licit all of that plan had allrn lu the ground lung before. He idle rod Ida service at any time and in any phcu or capacity, Ireo of cost or fearless of consequences. The eminent gentlemen gentle-men who were there r.ilh him joined in the request that the prayer el Booth be granted, and thst Beal bbould be pardoned. At last President Lincoln, with tears streamiag down his fare, took Booth by tliu hands, Utile him rihi nnd stand like a man, and )''o liiin his promise that Ileal should b-.i pardoned, par-doned, lie asked Ihe party todepiirl that ho might gain rent for the work of the morrow, and said that the otlicial document that they nskeu lor fhould be for.vunhd at nm-e to United Stiiles M ushal Robert Murrry, in Now York, and Ihmucli him lo theoH'ieer.-charged theoH'ieer.-charged with tin: rxecution of Ileal. Alter break fait Lincoln inlormed Seward, secretary of fUt, what In-had In-had done or primjisM to do. Seward said thai it miil not be; that public sentiment in tho north demanded Unit Heal should bo hung. He declared de-clared that lo pardon Beal would discourage dis-courage culistmonts, lengthen thi war, and inult the hcntiuieut that called for blood. Ilo eluded Lincoln for making such protniaeH without asking the advice of his cabinet, or advising with himself, Seward, on state policy. As the argument grew contonlious, Seward declared thai if the conduct of the war wiih to be trifled with by appeals for humanity ho should go ou I of tho cabinet and lino bis influence against iho president, presi-dent, and should charge him wiih being in sympathy with the south. Lincoln yielded and Beal was executed. ex-ecuted. The reaction to Lincoln's nervout- system was such that (or da he was far from well. The efl'cet of Booth win lenib'e. He raved like a madman, and in bin frenzy sworo that Lincoln anil Seward should Ijoth pay for the grief and agony ho had been put to. From tho deatli of Boal, Booth brood d vengeance ven-geance for that which ho considered a personal aflnmt. His rage took in Seward, and ho engaged Harold, Atserodl, anil others lo avenge Ileal's death by killing Heward, while lie, Uoolh, wreaked human vengeance on the president. At last came the hour. Booth killed Lincoln. Ilia friends and tho relatives or rivcngorn of Ileal tried their beat lo kill Seward, nnd when they kit him slabbed, bleeding, nnd limp cl"lh, as ho rolUd over b-liind the led whereon they fuund liiiu, they supposed their work was completely dm io. Our story is told. Wo have given the trull) of history, and lo!d why Abrnham Lincoln, tin) humane' picmduil of the I'mhd Slatea waw lolled. i'oimroy'n J-w-riit. |
