human
You've mistaken your calling, Mr. Vaughan,
gpt
Why do you say that?
human
You're a statesman--not an editor--you should be in the Cabinet.
gpt
Much obliged, Miss Betty--but I'm not in this one, thank you. Besides, you're mistaken. I'm only an intelligent observer and reporter of events. I've never had the will to do creative things.
human
Why?
gpt
The responsibility is too great. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Only God Almighty can save this Nation to-day. It's too much to expect of one man.
human
Yet God must use man, mustn't He?
gpt
Yes. That's why my soul goes out in sympathy to the lonely figure who steps out of obscurity and poverty to-day to do this impossible thing. No such responsibility was ever before laid on the shoulders of one man. In all the history of the world he has no precedent, no guide----
human
Never such a crowd as this!
gpt
Why, they say it's smaller than usual!
human
I don't mean size, Ned went on rapidly.
gpt
It's their temper that's remarkable. An Inauguration crowd should support the administration. The Lord help the Rail-splitter if that sullen dumb mob are his constituents! Half of them are downright hostile----
human
Washington's a Southern town,
gpt
They are not Washington folks--not one in a hundred. And the only honest backers old Abe seems to have are about a thousand serious young fellows from the West, whom General Scott has armed as a special guard to circle the crowd.
human
There's a bunch of them--and there's one stationed every ten yards. The artillery in position, the infantry in line, the sharpshooters masked in windows, the guard under the platform with muskets cocked, and a thousand volunteers to threaten the crowd from without, I think the new President should get a respectful hearing! The procession is coming up the Avenue now with a guard of sappers and miners packed so closely around the open carriage you can't even see the top of old Abe's head----
gpt
Let's get our seats!