in human rights—no doubt was—but
exceedingly dangerous to trade. He hoped the North
would win; but it might go hard with him personally
and other financiers. He did not care to fight.
That seemed silly for the individual man to do.
Others might—there were many poor, thin-minded,
half-baked creatures who would put themselves up to
be shot; but they were only fit to be commanded or
shot down. As for him, his life was sacred to
himself and his family and his personal interests.
He recalled seeing, one day, in one of the quiet side
streets, as the working-men were coming home from their
work, a small enlisting squad of soldiers in blue
marching enthusiastically along, the Union flag flying,
the drummers drumming, the fifes blowing, the idea
being, of course, to so impress the hitherto indifferent
or wavering citizen, to exalt him to such a pitch,
that he would lose his sense of proportion, of self-interest,
and, forgetting all—wife, parents, home,
and children—and seeing only the great need
of the country, fall in behind and enlist. He
saw one workingman swinging his pail, and evidently
not contemplating any such denouement to his day’s
work, pause, listen as the squad approached, hesitate
as it drew close, and as it passed, with a peculiar
look of uncertainty or wonder in his eyes, fall in
behind and march solemnly away to the enlisting quarters.
What was it that had caught this man, Frank asked himself.
How was he overcome so easily? He had not intended
to go. His face was streaked with the grease
and dirt of his work—he looked like a foundry
man or machinist, say twenty-five years of age.
Frank watched the little squad disappear at the end
of the street round the corner under the trees.
This current war-spirit was strange. The people
seemed to him to want to hear nothing but the sound
of the drum and fife, to see nothing but troops, of
which there were thousands now passing through on their
way to the front, carrying cold steel in the shape
of guns at their shoulders, to hear of war and the
rumors of war. It was a thrilling sentiment,
no doubt, great but unprofitable. It meant self-sacrifice,
and he could not see that. If he went he might
be shot, and what would his noble emotion amount to
then? He would rather make money, regulate current
political, social and financial affairs. The poor
fool who fell in behind the enlisting squad—no,
not fool, he would not call him that—the
poor overwrought working-man—well, Heaven
pity him! Heaven pity all of them! They
really did not know what they were doing.
One day he saw Lincoln—a tall, shambling
man, long, bony, gawky, but tremendously impressive.
It was a raw, slushy morning of a late February day,
and the great war President was just through with his
solemn pronunciamento in regard to the bonds that
might have been strained but must not be broken.
As he issued from the doorway of Independence Hall,
that famous birthplace of liberty, his face was set
in a sad, meditative calm. Cowperwood looked
at him fixedly as he issued from the doorway surrounded
by chiefs of staff, local dignitaries, detectives,
and the curious, sympathetic faces of the public.
As he studied the strangely rough-hewn countenance
a sense of the great worth and dignity of the man
came over him.