The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-12-04
Post.Mortem Justice.


All that Is mortal Of HORACE GREELEY,
editor, philosopher and philanthropist,
will be consigned to-day to liz last abode,
amid surroundings such as rarely honor
the worlds most illustrious dead. Ifany
doubted GRERLEY's place In the popular
esteem, the manner in which the news OF
his death has been everywhere received,
must remove such q doubt. Since the
death Of LINCoLN-whOSe deceasG was
attended with moro tragic but not more
pathetic circumstances, -there has been
no such universal and genuine sorrow rs
now. The press everywhere has Joined
ieelingly in paying warm tributes TO the
man who while first in the profession is
found likewise 10 DO first in the hearts Of
his countrymcn. Old antagonisms arc
forgotten, and men and journals which
never could find 3. kind word to
say for GREELEY while he was living,
speak kindly Of him now There are a
few exceptions among tho papers, but
these only serve TO bring out more sharp.
lyby the contrast the -uobility which ami.
mates American journalism.
This spontaneous popular feeling is not
tribute 10 Mr.. GREELEY simply as sue.
cesSiul editor, or as q learned, brilliant
and distinguished man, who has stamped
his impress sharply on our institutions and
moulded public opinion Tor a generation.
There is admiration for all this, but there
is HI instructive recognition Of something
better. There is that bond Of sympathy
which makes the whole world kin. There
is wide spread and profound conviction
that HORACE GREELEY was thoroughly
honest, unselfsh man, whose heart was
warmed by sympathy for all who need.
ed sympathy and help, and that his con-
trolling purpose in life was devotion to
no soFdid objects OF his own but to the
uplifting and well.belng of his fellows.
The difference between professional phi
lanthropist and the genuine article is one
that cannot be concealed from tho CON-
mon people. 1t was because Mr.. GREE
LEY had a real sympathy for his kind, be.
cause he felt their woes and helped carry
their burdens and sought 10 Tighten them,
that people now feel genuine sorrow for
his death as that Of true friend; and his
faults and mistakes, which were venial,
are forgotten in generous recollection Of
his overshadowing virtues.
Now that the man is dead-now that
he is beyond the reach Of all the shafts Of
envy, rilicule and ingratitudc, whose tar.
get he was while living-peOple form a
juster estimate Of the man than they
were capable OF while he lived and NOV.
ed among them; and that estimate crowns
neutrality-suspicious. honor and kind Ie-
membrance. 1t is Sorrowful 10 think how
touched and grateful the subject Of all the
eulogy which now fills the public ear
would have been, il these same culo.
glSts had accorded him then but the
simplest justice-and 10 think how IN.
svailing 1t all is now when sounded in
"the dull cold ear of death" /; is IL
strange and painful Illustration of the
Inconsistency and cruelty OF the thing call.
ed popular opinion. HORACE GREELEY
lying on his bier today, mOurned with
what may be termed the splendor Of
national grief, is no better than
HORACE GREELEY, candidate for
President one month ago. Yet then
he was the subject Of more bitter
cslumny and mcrciless defamation
than any other man ever suffered, living
or dead. Then there was scarcely an act
too wicked or motive too unworthy TO be
attributed TO him. To-day the men and
journals whose calumnies cut him 10 the
heart and poisoned the very fountains OF
his Lille join zealously, and with genuine
feeling, we doubt not-possIbly with an
Gagerncss not wholly free from remorse-
in paying the most glowing tributes to
the purity Of his private character, the
nobility OF his motives, and the illUstri.
qua north Of h;n r,,l,l,n nnr,,;nnn