New-York tribune., 1870-11-16
REP PUBLiCAN TRIALS IN ILLTNOI2
tbe Editor OF The Pyibun,

TO be Editor OF The Trf6uns
SIR Mr.. w. y. Allen, in the last number OF Ts,
North 1m1ioan Rerietc turns aside from a review q,
Nommsen's History of Rome to some remarks ON
the advantages of our social and political condition
as compared with that Of Rome before the EnDre
In the course Of these, he says:
Modern political philosophy ia broad and expan,,ys
where that OF the hncients VIZ couhned to naro,
routine. We are in the habit OF questioning our instn
tons closely scrutDzing their defects and propo,n,
remedies. The single fact OF the recent revision OF bs
Constitution Of Illinois is full OF promise for the future
for s revised not In the interest OF doubtful theor
but with the aim Of practical Improvement" o.. 4c
There is one man to whom the chief credit Of H.,
revision and improvement in question should b.
giyen-Mr. Joseph Medill most esiipable geltle-
man. who was for some years one of the editors Of
The Chicago Tribune and is still one Of it's chief
owners, though, unfortunately he has at presen,
no influence whatever in its management Mr
Medill has more practical and information
than any other a citizen Of Illinois. Hs
went to the recent constitutional Convention with
numerous proposals clearly defined in his own
mind chief among which that Of Minority
Representation. Reseryng the latter as his own
pet project, he interested others, the thought
full younger men especially, in tho Convention
to adopt and bring forward his prOpOsitOIa
lending each of course, his support
and securing with this the support Of strong party
of the most active and most intelligent members Of
the body. The shrewdness aiiabilty, and strong
good sense which conspicuous in Mr. Medill,
never more happily employed than in this quiet work
of inspiring and guiding the action Of the Illinois
Constitutional Convention. 1t was in consequence
Of his success in this work. and the support he w@
thus able to command, that the motion for Minority
Representation prevailed; and the same weigty in.
Il - I'll h .p1a q lFn
means the support of The Tribune which secured
the adoption of this.clause but the influences which
Mr. Medill had set in motion in all parts Of ths
State, through those members OF the Conven.
ton whom he had drawn to his side and wbc
were pledged by an earnest sympathy with him
to sustain his favOrite scheme. So far as any inhu
ence of The Tribune was recognized, IT was simply
on the assumption that Mr.. Medill was using it az
the organ of his views. In itself, or i'll its actual
editor, The Tribune is as destitute of influence a,
il it had never become great newspaper. At this
moment particularly. it is as thoroughly disegared
and despised as if it had never had any character
Mr. Medill commands general respect when be speaks
for himself either in The Tribune OF outside Of IT, lie
has Just suffered seriously in his candidacy for the Re-
publican nomination for Congress in his District from
his supposed close connection with The Tribune:
the people Of the District having hearty hatred Of
that journals dictation, and wrongly imagining ths,
| Mr. Medll would enter the field the candidate oi
| The Tribune which in fact only lent him cold sup
port to get rid Of him, aud was willing enough to
reach its own purpose by the breakdown of Mr.
Medlls prospects, and his dismissal to the obscurty
of rejected politician.
There are some facts in the history of The Ckicdg,
Tribune which ought to appear in connection vita
the mention here made of Mr. Medill, who should in
justice be at this moment the editor Of the paper.
and but for his supposed intimate Identification with
it, as conducted, might have been sent to Con-
gress with better head for wise legislation than
any man now in the delegation of the State. Mr..
Medll and the present business manager OF the
paper, Mr.. Cowles, first secured snccess for Th
Tribune. It became great paper after DR.. c. Ii.
Ray came in chief editor, with whom SIr. Medill
was associated. 1t was DR.. Rays good fortune 10 be
able to use the paper in the uncOmpromsing support
of the War against Rebellion, and by that to give
il character and eminence among the journals OF
the country which but two or three other American
journals could boast Of At this time Mr. Medill did
grand service to the loyal cause not only by his
currence with the general tone of Dr. Rays conduct
of the paper but by his sound financial views, and
the skill with which he exposed all propositions to
involve the Government in breach of faith with ts
creditors He made the nation his debtor by the in.
tellgence, honesty, and energy, with which he dis
| cussed our finances
After The Tribune had been made by Dr. Ray and
Mr. Medill power in the country, the former sud.
denly quilted his post to engage in other business
| and did this by chance at o time when Mr.. Medin
was out of health, and was absent for the season.
| One Of the younger subordinates in the editorial
rooms, who had handled the scissors in clipping
from the exchanges or had gone OUT as reporter and
correspondent for tho paper had become consider
able in the concern, and he stepped in as
temporary editorial manager, and finally secured
| the position, to the exclusion of hr. Metill IL
would be difficult to say how he accomplished this
were it not that his coalition for effecting 1t was
| with the partners who were business men merely
and that he made them believe that he could make
more. money for them than Mr.. Medill. OF editorial
capacity he possessed very little; of editorial eaa'
acter none at all. Destitute of sympathies, prin'
| ciples, or convictions. except as he pitched W
some accident of narrow, obstinate mind upoa
one net notion that of FreeTTade he was ready iof
| an unscrupulous disregard of every consideration
except profit and his own whims. Ii was by DO
means necessary that he should do anything toward
| the making of the paper; other hands could Oe Sc
| cured for that and he would only have TO ENJOY LIS
dignity, to dictate his fances the policy OF tDo
paper and to draw his salary. A colder, more arrV
| CANT and oontemptuous mind, toward all tnins'
which are of warm human interest, could hafuy 70
found in any high representative position. lheonV
thing which stirs the blood Of this icy auloVi''
is some demonstration of his contenp' ,ot
interests which imperatiyely cry TO MN io'
just recognition. He takes faint ple'suo
in making The Tribune the close ally OF inc CH0's
Times, as he has twice done, and in lending
service against the Republican party as injurious
any ever done by The N. Y. Uor'd, and q gie'. e'a
meaner. He has just carried 10 the pois-lor u'l's