Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-08-03
Review Of Greeley,

The speech of SENATOR CoNKIINa Is 80
mastery, concise, forcible and convincing,
that we cannot lorbear making another eX-
tract or two from it, 1t puts every subject
treated in sucTi a nutshell shape that the read
or takes in the whole matter at glance Ii is
one of the best campaign documents of the
times iGrceley's fitness for the position to
which he aspres is disposed Off showing that
his very talents unfit him for the Office of
president:
The Republican party has been blamed
for not gratifying Greelry's ambition for
office. bnt the mass of the party, though
approaching his eccentric genius, be.
lieved him erratic ard not possessed Of
the practical wisdom, moderation, or
business capacity to make useful or
safe official. His course in the constiln-
tional convention was n series of pepvish
attempts u do everything, and resulted
in his prematurely leaving his post, alter
pouring upon the members vollcys OF
oaths. His affiliations with men has
shown him TO be poor judge Of human
nature. The worst men have stack TO
him like barnaclcs, and his management
Ot every business, except editing news
paper, has shown him wanting in busi.
ness capacity. AS an editor he lacked n
balance wheel with which to keep him
from Inconsistency. His investments Of
money, his ventures with Tweed, and
lending his name to men unworthy Of
trust, evihced unsound Judgment. The
epithets aud libels with which he pursues
those be hates or euvies, shows u slran-
gely unchrislian and unbrided nature.
Truthful history will never record that
Horace Greeley owed the Rel ublcan
party nothing, but the verdict viii be
that he spoke like scheming migrate,
when he said: 81 am perfectly willing
To pass receipts wih The Republican
party, aud say our accounts are now set
tied and closed"
Greelcys record well sustains the assertion
of the reviewers thnt his deeds arc 10 be found
In his words;
Extracts from the 2riJU,ie, after the
first election and prior TO the inadgura-
tion of Lincoln, were read To show that
he melted secession hy expressing his
Willingness TO let the South leave the !
Union peaceably, as were also extracts
from speeches by General Blair IN the
Senate in 1871, making the same charge.
The "On to Richmond" articles OF The
Tribune were also quoted as the inear-
nation of conceit and folly, which drove
the army headlong 10 Bull Run. Before
that battle, said Conkling, Greeley inn
puted treason to General Scott, ard after
the defeat he cuddlod up to Scott, whom
he tried TO dishonor less than -four weeks
previously. Greeley, early IN Iincoln's
administration, became his enemy. This
is noticeable IN the Niagara Falls peace
affair. Greeley had been for secession
when secession might have been avoided.
He had been for battle when the time
had not come. He had been in turn for
. war and peace, when each was impossible,
and early in 1864, when the Rebellion
was about TO collapse, and when every.
thing depended on Perceiving the North
erect, with united and undoubted front,
Greedy tellinto aswoon OF despoDdency,
and blamed our authorities for not trying.
to make peace. The details OF his ne
gotiations at Niagara were given, TO
show, said Conkling, undoubtedly that
Greeley was gnlled by shallow swindle.
Second that he not only bit at the bait,
but pressed the matter upon Lincoln in
a manner showing his intention TO carp
at him unless he yielded TO his views.
Third, that Lincoln punctured' the fraud
at a glance, and yet Greeley did not see
IL. Fourth, that Greeley bungled the
whole affair at Niagara, or else purpose
ly violated the repeated instructions OF
the President. Filth, that he tamely
submitted 10 the most unblashing effren-
terry aud imposition from the rebels.
Sixth, that he expressly admitted and
stated that Lincoln had been fckle or
untrutblal, when he knew he had not.
Aud finally, that when Lincoln sought
70 yisdicsie hinzflf by making the truth