Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1894 — HOW THE PARTY DEGENERATED. [ARTICLE]

HOW THE PARTY DEGENERATED.

What Lincoln Said When lie Was Thought Of for the Presidency. W. W. Danenhower, the father of Lieut. Danenhower, of arctic fame, who died the other day, up to the day of his death preserved in a little glass-covered frame a brief note written to him by Lincoln on the day of his first inauguration, March 4, 1861. Danenhower, who was a close friend of Lincoln, had called to see him that morning, and admittance had been refused him. The President, hearing of it. in spite of his many cares, took time to pen a note of apology, telling his friend not to think he was “putting on airs” because he was “in the White House,” and asking him to call again and he would see that he was admitted. Danenhower, according to the Philadelphia Record, was the first to announce to Lincoln the decision of the National Convention Committee of Conference to recommend Lincbln to the National Convention. Lincoln’s look of surprise, he said, was genuine. He laughed a deep inward ripple, and, dropping his hands and removing his legs from a table before which he was seated, he arose and paced the room, saying: “Why, Danenhower, this shows how political parties are degenerating. You and I can remember when we thought no one was (it for the Presidency but Harry Clay. Now you are seriously considering me for the position. It is absurd. ”