The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-07-18
BROWN AND GREELEY.


obser we'd the study that he gives to almost
every utteran &C he makes, and can appreciate
that deep political philosophy which alone
directs his action, the sentiment of the cx-
tract below, will not seem strange. We have
not been favored with an intimate personal
Acquaintance with him. But SO strikingly
we're we impressed with the deliberate,
thoughtful, truthful and penetrating char
actet of his mind the first time we ever heard
him speak, that the impression still exists
as fresh as when it was Arst created. It was
in the Missouri Legislature during the win
ter of 1867. He spoke but short time
but his manner the style Of his d.live-
ry, couvince1 Us Tint he WAS no ordinary
man, and that there was big future for the
youthful Politician who had braved public
sentiment on thu slavery q leStion, as early
as 1850. in his adopted state. lie then
forecast the future, an pre- lictcl the aboli-
ton Of slavery OF ours, he did not foretcl
the manner by which it would b, accomplish
cd. But he boldly asserted and tenaciously
adhered to the belief that slavery was only
question Of time.
Eighteen months az, On the occasion of
Mr.. Brown $ election as Governor Of Missouri,
we through these columns, in lengthy arti-
ole, gave our estimate Of his abilities aad re-
corded our conviction that there was bright
future in store for him We believed then ),
as we believe now, THAT the ideas, progress
sive and practical, which he had promulga-
ted during his canvass, were those which
harmonizsd with the good and prosperity Of
the country, aad that eventually they would
become nationalized, and interwoven in the
policy of the government.
AT that time, it was treason for US to write
as we did, 10 the estimation of many, who
now upbraid US for not going far enougn or
fast enough We were then regarded as tee
much Republican in our leanings, and were
suspected Of not being exactly true to the
Conservative party. But chen as now We
had our opinions, and expressed them, and
that in our way and at such times as we
deemed advisable.
The extract below is taken from an i'm
promptu speech delivered at New Haven,
where he was attending re assembling of his
class mates, after twenty-five years scpara
ton. The occasion was the announcement
of the news of the result of the Baltimore
Convention The extract gives Mr.. Brown S
estimate Of Mr. Greeley, and We believe lie
utters his honest sentiments
Now, what ask gentlemen, what did you
see at Baltimore You saw great party ar
rayed in its might-a party that might nave
contested, and contested perhaps successfully
for the control Of this nation. You saw that
party going forward and celebrating
Gentlemen, whilst we are distinct and
separate organization. whilst we do not refuse
to recognize those binding ties that have kept
US together through years of trial, yet we be-
lieve this to be an occasion in which the
safety Of this nation is imperriled. We be-
lieye it to be an occasion in which the safety
of this nation rises higher and above all party
considerations. Therefore, although we dc
: not in our own hearts approve, in all respects
the gentleman who may be nominated, yet il
is question of saving the nation, aad not oil
electing anybody. We have, therefore, come
to the unanimous conclusion, as they did al
, Baltimore, that we will recommend to those
} who have heretofore adhered to the Demo-
cratic party that they cast their sufrages for
those gentlemen who have been nominated al
Cincinnati; believing them to be honest and
true, and brave.
! Now, my fellow-citizens, am not going t.
make you much Of speech tonight, but
am going to say one or two things that
want you to bear ia mind. A voice, " &c
ONT 1t has been the custom and habit tia,
: when any gentleman who may have been en-
, tagonistic to us or to some Of the gentlemen
who have been in the liberal republican
; movement, to say that they had no conf
deuce in that great chief who had been nom
mated at CINCINNATI, that they were willing
J to vote for him as President, but all the time
, qualifying it with doubts, with questions
! with interrogations, with arched eyebrows ant
with long mouths.
want to say to you that [ do moi
belong to that class. believe him to be 8
great and grand statesman. [Applause. l.
.13I do believe he has got the largest brain in
America. Applause.
Now, my felow-citizens, | have some op
/ portunity Of understanding by this question
that have been, Us far as Greeley is con-
: cerned, in conflict with him on large and vi
5 tai questions. [ hove known him for long
: years, and have been in relations with him
through the press. If any of the gentlemen
? who stand before me haze been his readers,
| say to you frankly, with the honest expert
ence OF an antagonistic journalist, that [ be-
L ievc he is the ablest man to-day in America
S [ have differed with him on great and, as
believe on fundamental questions. | have
differed with him on great and grave ques-
tons with him in the public press I have
antagonized, and | have opposed him, and I
may perhaps, have occasionally ridiculed
him; but am frank to say that Of all the
men who assume the opposing side there was,
} as long as he represented that question, no
man that undertook to say he was ridiculous
or captious. He took the plume from them
all, and these men to-day who are assailing
Il him were the very ones who were pluming
him to the skies as their chief-their leader.