New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-12-12
The Peoples Appreciation ofTrue
Merit.

The manifestations Of sorrow and regret
about the death of Horace Greeley, so uni
versal, so sincere, reflect not less favorabiy
ON those from whom they emanate, than on
the man who has been their object. 1t is
frequently asserted by other nations that the
Americans are emphatically devoted to the
pursuit of material interests, and lack the
perception and appreciation of the highest
intellectual and moral qualities. The hon.
age paid to the memory of Horace Greeley
strikingly refutes this assertion, since it is
solely tribute to intellectual achievements.
and to personal moral worth. If Mr.. Gree
ley had occupied any high and important OH
cial position, a large part of these demon
STATIONS might be accounted for on that
ground, but it was-we should say-his good
luck never to be before the people in any Of
fetal capacity of consequence, though he was
more than once an aspirant for it. The Presi-
dency, tho dream Of his life, was denied to
him; he neither was member Of the Cabi-
net nor was he ever prominent in Congress;
he was none Of those favored few, who
through one great discovery become material
benefactors of mankind, and thus win ever
lasting fame. In fact, there was not one
single inducement of that description to en-
list the sympathy of the whole nation; it was
simply Horace Greeley to whom the people
thus paid their tribute of recognition, of rev.
erence and gratitude; the founder and chief
editor Of the New York Tribune, the lifelong
advocate ofliberty, justice, and human rights,
the philanthropist, the promoter of enlighten-
ment, progress, and science, and the irrecon-
cilable enemy of oppression, bigotry, and
vice, who has welded rs powerful an infiu-
ence, contributed as much to the intellectual,
political, aud moral improvement of his coun-
trymen as any other man living. 1t is true
that large part of those most anxious to ex'
press their feelings of reverence and regret
are by no means possessed of the degree OF
knowledge, depth, and intelligence needed to
appreciate and sound Horace Greeley's mani
fold merits by themselves; that with them it
is matter of feeling, of instinct, or an inn
preston based on the authority Of others,
rather than the result of Independent and in.
telligent judgment. This circumstance, how.
ever, far from lessening the value of their
sympathy, only shows their disposition, their
tendency to venerate all that is noble and
good in a man, though it may even exceed
| their power of comprehension.
There is another significant feature about
the honors showered on Mr.. Greeley. II
must be remembered that just short time
previous to his death, he had alienated the
affection of a large part of the very best mer
in the country, who, if he had lived, would
never have forgiven him his attempt to hell
the Democrats into power; yet this most ia
tai mistake of his life is now passed over in
silence, owing to the magnanimous DISPOSE
ton humankind to forget the errors of a great
man, and to remember only his merits ant
virtues, when they so much outweigh the
former. If Mr.. Greeley could have seen ant
heard all the manifestations Of affection ant
reverence of nearly whole nation, he would
have become reconciled to his failure as {
candidate for the Presidency, and discovered
how far more honorable, exalted, and desir
able was the position of Horace Greeley o
the Tribune than that of Democratic Presi
dent of the United States. Even if he hat
been successful, his course would necessaril,
have gone downward, since he would hav'
been left with comparatively little power TO
good in the hands of worthless party, unde
whose weight even his popularity must have
broken down, which now is safe forever ii
the memory of this generation as in thos,
that are to succeed it.