Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1888 — A Well-Kept War Secret. [ARTICLE]

A Well-Kept War Secret.

Springfield (Mass.) Union. Professor George B. Wileox, of Chicago, reveals in the Congregationalist a well-kept secret of our lace war. He says that the purchase of Alaska from Russia by the United States Government in 1867 was really not for the acquisition of more territory, but was for the purpose of paying a debt of the war which President Lincoln and Secretary Seward contracted. At the time. duHng4hg_ was, when it looked as though England and France were going to take hold and help the Confederacy in earnest, President Lincoln secured from Russia a fleet of war vessels to help d efend our porta and assist in maintaining the 7 blockade of the rebel ports. The presence of Russian veeseis off some of our harbors was ar mystery at the time, and they depart ed as mysteriously as they came. Their departure was due to the fact that the apprehended danger from England and Fiance did not materia’ire, and then the question arose how Russia could be compensated. President Lincoln had used his war power freely, and Congress had backed him up, but here was a bill for millions, and he feared that be would be criticised for incurring it, although it was a wise thing to do when he did it. While the President was hesitating how to get at it, the war closed and the President was assassinated, and Mr. Seward was left te solve the problem. Russia wanted the money, but she appreciated the situation and waited patiently. Finally the project of getting Congress to authorize the purchase of Alaska was hit upon and the $7,200,000 that we paid Russia for Alaska was really in payment of the fleet bill, and Alaska was thrown in. The secret iwas so well kept that General W. T. Sherman heard of it for the first time in Russia, and he kept the story to himself until a recent army reunion. Secretary Seward must have shared with some of the Congressmen his secret of the real reason why he wanted Alaska bought at a time when the United States Government needed money more than territory, but if he did they guarded wellhis confidence; The complete history cf our late wards yet to he written, and generations yet to come wid read with wonder and with admiration of the consummate ability displayed by President Lincoln and his Cabinet no less than of the marvelous patriotism and coprage that were displayed on land and sea by army and navy. - ■ Onenight lastweek Jack Smith, ol Eustis, Fla., killed five possums at one ’shot