Daily national Democrat., 1860-06-28
That Letter.


We published, yesterday, the letter written
by Horace Greeley, six years ago, to Wm.
II. Seward, in which he distinctly informs
that gentleman that he no longer regards
him with feelings of personal friendship, and
that he will never support him again unless
"it is necessary for the party" His reasons
for thus severing his connection with Seward
is that, in his editorial and private capacity,
he was greatly instrumental in securing Mr.
Seward the high positions of Governor and
United States Senator; that, in those posi-
tions Mr.. Seward forgot all his obligations to
to him (Greeley), and neglected to bestow
any favor whatever upon him, notwithstand-
ing he controlled the entire State patronage
at one time, and the whole Federal patron
age of New York at another. The letter
bears evidence of great bitterness of feeling,
and that it was written under deep impress
sion of grievous wrong and injustice.
This letter has been raked up by the Re
publican enemies of Greeley, for the purpose
Of injuring him. and the charges have been
rung upon it by the press generally. The
cry is that it shows that Greeley was not
working for principle but for the spoils, and
that he is not the disinterested advocate of
his party which he was once taken to be.
Well, this is all very fine talk, but never
theless quite absurd. We see nothing so
very horrible in plain and manly avowal
to an aspirant for public honors that you
cannot support him, unless compelled by
party necessity; that he has been ungrate-
ful to devoted friendship, and can no longer
have such friendship from you. Has not a
man the right to expect that he will be re-
membered by those whom he has elevated TO
places of dignity and profit Ii should not
be the ruling motive of any laborer in the
ranks of party to receive the rewards of
partisan fidelity, but it is his right neverthe-
less to expect it, and the public man who for.
gets favors extended him and services rem
dered is an migrate for whom no penalty is
too severe We do not blame Greeley at all
for his resentment. Editors, more than half
the time, make the great men Of the country.
True these men frequently owe much to
themselves, but the press is the grand redec-
tor of their talents and sometimes magnfer
of their greatness. Whatever they do that
is praiseworthy is heralded by the friendly
journal, to every nook and corner of the
country. Their names are kept before the
people. well.timed auegyric here, n
hearty response to some worthy sentiment
there, a steady devotion, at all times, to their
interests and their principles, a ready and tri-
umphant answer to the calumnies against
them, calumnies which would politically an
initiate them if unansw cred all these things
advance the man, and he rises in proportion
to the ardor of his adherents and the elo-
quence and vigor of his champions. Think
you, it takes no talent to WELD this wand of
power? Verify, without the lever of the
press to raise them, the greatest of our great
est would drudge with the million.
VIM. II. Seward was defeated in the grand
hope of his life, nomination for the Presi-
>
energies of powerful mind, long and faith
fully. to his elevation. but who went forgot
ten and unrewardred He deserved his
fate. and so does every man who fails to re-
member that the press. with its SILENT plod-
ding, patient driver of the pen behind it, and
its pale workers at the lease, is pocer in
the land
Greeley did not forsake his principles, (for
these he still advocates,) but be did forsake
an migrate to personal friendship and the de-
votion Of years of toll and service. He was
right, and while we detest his doctrines, we
applaud the manly vigor of that resentment
hat made the oJlivious Senator remember
n the crisis of his fate, and in the full pride
If his glory, that he, who SCOTS at the friend
y breeze that watts him on, may feel the
empest in its wrath ere his voyage is end
"a.