The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-01-20
A GOOD MAN IN ADVERSELY.

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A GOOD MAN IN ADVERSELY.
We doubt whether {: much more
pitiable spectacle was ever witnessed by
the public than that which Mr.. Horace
Greeley presented before the Senate Com
mittee at the Custom house on Thursday.
down the principle in his paper that no
journalist had right to make any state
ment which he was not prepared at any
time to substantiate with the fullest evil
dence. If journalist declined to produce
this evidence, he must be, said Mr.. Greeley,
"either chattering magpie or liar"
We have always thought that Mr.. Greeley
was not magpie, and we hoped he was
not the other thing; but he now goes out
of his way to prove that he must be one or
the other, if not both. For he has been
making the most sweeping charges against
the management of the Custom house for
months past, and has cried ont loudly for
committee of investigation. The COM
mittee came, and thinking to go to the
fountain head for information, they immed-
lately invited Mr.. Greeley to produce his
evidence. The astonishing man then gets
upon the stand, and begins by acknowledge
ing at once that he knows nothing about
the corruption he has so openly charged
upon the Custom-house ofic ials, and in the
course Of three hours examination, he pro-
duces not single fact in veritication Of
his wild accusations. What are rural Re-
publicans to think of their guide, philoso-
pher, and friend after this? Coupled with
his Presidential ASPIRATIONS a nd his recent
remarkable letters, does not tl>is behavior
of his give rise to the alarming suspicion
that he has a " bee in his bonnet: ~ lie is
not magpie, that we have admitted-but
what about the other alternative
Bad as Mr.. Greeley's case was when he
admitted that he knew of no foundation
for the charges brought forward i'll the
Tribune, he made it ten times worse when
he said that he did know about the in
reference of Custom-h house officials in pol
itics. For no sooner were the words out of
his mouth than they were conclusively dis
proved. He positively asserted that last
Monday " General Ketchum told the men,
bers Of the Assembly that they must vote
for the administration When asked who
told him so, he replied, "Messrs. Eastman
and Goring.' Neither of these gentlemen
ever said word to him on the subject
Mr.. Eastman distinctly denies having had
any such conversation with Mr.. Greeley as
Mr.. Greeley ascribes to him. When he
began his evidence, Mr.. Greeley was asked
whether he would testify on affirmation Or
by oath. He replied that it was "imma-
terial and so, indeed, it seemed. lie
makes certain rash statements, and gives
as his authority for them men who never
exchanged word with him on the sub
:ject. Is this to be ascribed to an utter
failure Of memory, or to that tendency of
the human mind which sometimes leads
men to say deliberately the thing which ia
not? What are we to think of our late
Franklin?
Let anybody read Mr.. Greeley evidence
attentively, and then consider what it all
comes to. 1t is nothing in the world but
prolonged whine over the fact that Mr..
Greeleys personal friends have not had
what he considers their proper share of
"offices." Let no one take our word for
it-sit down and read the evidence for
yourselves. We have reported it rerbat,m.
Mr.. Murphy, he says, removed Fenton
men and put in Conkling men," That is
enough to hang Mr.. Murphy. The Fenton
men were prescribed they did not get
enough solid pudding, &c. &c. This
was the burden of Mr.. Greeley's complaint.
Did ever distinguished man make SO
contemplate an appearance?
Mr.. Greeley complains bitterly of FEEDER
al interference at conventions. But not
word of complaint from him did we hear
when Collector Murphy, Mr.. Latin, and
other Custom-house officials, went to Sara
toga to try to get him the nomination for
Governor in 1870. Even Senator Conkling
voted for him, but the rural delegates
would not "swallow the philosopher
They think he may be an experienced and
able journalist, but as a practical politician
they regard him as most unsafe and dan
gerous mau. And so he is. He is perpet-
ually chasing will-o' the-wisps, and try
ing to get other people to follow him. Just
now lie is carrying on desperate Irritation
with the Democrats. Hold an Office be-
fore his nose, and he follows it as a certain