The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-07-25
"H, c."

"H. G."
1t is an interesting study to the Gu
rious to watch the insidious approach
es of the passion of love of notcriety,
so often displayed by politicians,
which finally consumes certain pub
lie men. In what peculiar ways it
will exhibit itself, by what steps 1t
will gradually entold its subject, no
man, in its first stages, can tell.
There is but one certainty about it,
which is its fatal termination. 1t
seizes the purest and noblest char
acters. and, after leading them thro'
paths of honorable ambition, labored
efforts to catch public recognition,
the devious ways ofpolitical intrigue,
and fierce desire for place and pow
er, finally lands them, wrecked of ev-
erything great and good in their ma
lures, fit subjects for the basest and
most ignoble uses ofpolitical cliques.
The life of Horace Greeley fur
nishes one of the most extraordinary
instances on record of this class, of
the baleful effects of consuming am
bition upon the character of an hon.
est man. Doubtless he entered upon
the battle OF lite with an earnest de-
sire to act we'll his part among his
felloW-men. Possessed of a strong
will, pure heart and habits of econ
omy and industry, he was well fitted
to grapple with the hard realities of
metropolitan experience. Choosing
journalism as profession, he early
showed remarkable facility and force
of expression as a writer. To be
sure he was never profound, dealt
little with abstract questions of prin-
ciple, but seized the salient points OF
current events, and attacked or de-
Tended with vigorous blows. But
even in the earliest days of his histo-
ny as journalist, he developed an
extraordinary fondness for placing
himself personally in direct eommun-
ication with his readers. The Neao
Yorker, from the first volume to the
last, is filled with articles addressed
ito the readers, ETC., signed III. g.
When he was short OF funds, he
charged his subscribers with rank
injustice, warned them that they
would be visited by stings of con-
science and righteous retribution il
they did not pay up. When his as
sociates, one by one, lett him, he
wrote 'to his readers columns OF
elaborate regrets, but Invariably
wound up by assuring them that he
was equal to the task of making a
better newspaper than he and all his
associates together had ever made
before. He was always frank, say.
ing he had no money, couldn't pay
his bills, and must discontinue the
Neao Yorker unless his subscribers
paid up. His appeals were invaria'
bly, compounded in equal parts Of
growls, whines and threats, but still
they carried an impression of honest
impudence which doubtless pleased
some people but not enough people to
save the Neao Yorker from collapse,
When he got the Tribune fairly under
way, it became success, and there
was no longer occasion for growls Oh
threats. Accordingly he varied hi
communications to his readers by
threatening to bolt his party unless
it selected the men he thought bes'
to lead it to victory. These threats
were always signed I'll. Co. or bor'
other ear marks equally convincing
as to their paternity. We merely al
Jude to this custom of the philoso
Plies to show his fondness for notori
ETY., and his determination to max,
the Tribune his personal organ. Hi
readers did not understand then tina
he had an object 10 view in thu
placing his name prominently befor
the people. Even Seward and Weed
during their famous partnership will
him, did not know how he thirsteC
for office, until in an agony of des
pair, when all hints had failed, h
said to Weed, make Patterson Gov
ernor, and try my name for Lieuten
ant, and see whether | am so odious.
Weeds refusal to consent to this ar
rangement broke the partnership. VI
to that time Mr.. Greeley had playet
the hypocrite, in regard to his aspir
atoms for office. i'm such consum
mate fashion as to deceive his mos
intimate friends. He wanted office
but wanted it thrust upon him. Ill
honestly believed himself to be tn,
greatest journalist, the creates
statesman, and the best man in tn,
country, and was unable to conceiv,
how light so shining could SO long
be permitted to be hidden in obscu
rity. From this time great change
took place in his character. Away
cynical, ne became bitter and re
vengeful, and although the Sewart
and Weed partnership was dissolved
in 1854, his hatred ofSeward neve
cooled. So, in 1860, he came t,
Chicago to defeat his nomination t,
the Presidency. Mr.. Greeley de.
serves no credit for his support o
Lincoln upon that occasion ; his frs
choice was Bates, the Weaktes maj
whose name was presented to thu
convention. In that terrible emer
gency Mr.. Greeley forgot the coun
try, forgot the new party which wal
to save it from destruction, and act
ed solely from motives of reyeDge
generated nearly ten years before
and treasured and nursed with
fidelity of hate worthy Spaniard o.
the middle ages. BY this time Mr.
Greeley had become sufficiently NO.
torious but he had acquired notori
ETY. at the expense ofthe better quail
tiles of his nature. He had lost shil
love of journalism as profession
J and the Tribune had become the or