The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-11 00:00:00

Horace Greeley.

•
h ORACE GREELEY has raised a storm of indig-
nation in becoming security for JEFFERSON DAVIS'
The act for which he is so bitterly attacked is little
in keeping with what he said, wrote, and did within
the last six years. The strong point of the New
York Tribune was the immorality, not only of the
cause for which the Southern leaders contended, but
of their deeds in upholding the unjustifiable position.
Mr. GREELEY is responsible for the opinions of the
Tribune, and the Tribune has lost no opportunity
denouncing the high crimes and misdemennourra,
of the governing clique directed by Mr. DAVIS. 11
the Tribune was right, it was no mere political dif"
ference that divided the champions of the Northern
and Southern cause. Not only did Mr. GREELEY
hold that Mr. DAVIS fought for an unrighteous end,
but that he used iniquitous means to accomplish O
object. It was not a mere honest difference °f
opinion that separated them, but principles 0'
action, calculated to sever for ever those wh°
truly believed the denunciations they lost 110 op-
portunity of uttering. The world would sup Pose
that Mr. GREELEY was prompted by the wish to
soothe political asperities, to furnish a striking in°
stance of forgiveness and reconciliation. But Mr.
GREELEY'S main reasons, as given by
himself, are
that JEFFERSON DAVIS could not have been con"
victed in Virginia without packing a jury, and, that,
the prisoner's counsel desired him to become one o.f
the bondsmen. The first is an assertion, which, if
even true, had nothing to do with Mr. GREELEY;
the other, ridiculous in its absurdity. It is
wonder that public opinion should run strongly
against a curious proceeding, defended on n°
better grounds. When JOHN MINOR BOTTS was
pulled up by a friend for his part in this transaction,
he answered " that he would not permit dictation
in such matters," and he had a right, while al-
lowing others to judge of his conduct, to refuse a
reply to their animadversions. Had he simply eon'
fined himself to this, he would have said all that
was necessary ; and though his reasons, which Wt
t 1
here detail, are better than Mr. GREELEY'S, 1,
would have been wiser to have adhered to his right
of private judgment, without admitting the neces-
sityic of justification. First, he thought it wow
" have a harmonising influence ; second, he °II;
sidered that Mr. DAVIS had been kept in Pris°a
long enough without trial ; third, Mr. JOHNSON ba
imprisoned him, and he wanted to exercise " "nag-
nanimity ;" and lastly, he thought the Republican
party interests demanded the step."
Mr. GREELEY has, however, undertaken t°
lighten and direct Northern opinion, and he can
complain if he has succeeded so well that the sent•
ment he has mainly helped to form, ends by con'
demning himself. According to the Tribune, fir'
DAVIS has been guilty of upholding an unrighte°
cause by unrighteous means—of endeavouring to.
gain base and selfish ends without regard to the old'
jury inflicted on others--of wasting the blood a°
treasure of the nation—of vilifying his countrYo
and of doing all this, by acts so grossly inlraer
that no honest man, under any possible circunlii;
stances, could have adopted them. These are
doctrines expounded by the Tribune, for which 7;
GREELEY is responsible, and the people are n°'
El
little shocked in judging of the faith gr. GEEI-'
seems to have reposed in his own declarations'
when he is seen thrusting his name where ~
was not required, as a bondsman for the Pi,rlEos
cipal culprit. That the cause for which be
fought and STONEWALL JACKSON died, sb°`-but
denounced in these terms may be unfair, is
HORACE GREELEY, more than any other Ennulin,
the author of such denunciation. Poes be ea
tend this act as a recantation, or has he bell,
merely seeking additional notoriety ? Sisfby
duct in this instance has been condemned
an open vote of censure of the Union League
Club, a body composed of the most PrOd
minent, the most upright, and the most talent r.
men of the United States. We have not seen Iora
GREELEY'S explanation, which we may get bef
be
we go to press, but we cannot help thinking that „e
did really hope that he was offering the (mud
branch and pouring oil on the troubled waters'
311 d
if so, however inconsistent his conduct, we 1'.°1.,
be slow to condemn him.—Anglo-American