The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1872-07-27
GREELEY.
His True Portrait.

From the Springfield Republican,
A portion of our people have some
how come to think of Horace Greeley
as man of feeble will, infrm of pur
| pose, lacking mental poise, a sort Of
human weathervane blown about BY
every wind of doctrine. Naturally Gen
eral Grants friends in the press and or
the stump are just now taking great
pains to foster and cultivate this impress
sion. 1t is their cue to do SO the mo
tive is perfectly transparent. If Mr.
Greeley is in any such manner of man
as this, he is obviously unfit to be Presi
dent of the United States. If the voters
generally can be made to believe that he
is, General Grants re election, now
somewhat problematical, becomes a GER
tainty. 1t is therefore a part, and very
important part, of the administration i
game, to persistently represent Mr. Gree
ley as maggot- Drained theorist, IN
practical, erotchety, gullible, unstable,
not to be trusted in any responsible po~
sition by prudent people.
This is part of the game, We say.
But il is at least doubtful whether it
works" whether the results justify the
expenditure of breath, ink, and ingenui
ty. If there is any public man now
living about whom it is not easy to de
eeive the American people, that man is
Horace Greeley. They know him like
a bSSk"-know kiaSkasttsA end more
a hundred times better than they know
these orators of the stump and delicate
wits of the press, who are lampOoning
and caricaturing him They have long
since discovered his weak nesses and fol
bes. But they also long since learned
to admire the robust strength Of the man
the sound mind in the sound body,
the healthy, alert conscience, the tireless
energy, the generous devotion, the sturdy
back bone They know that the friend
of Henry Clay, the founder of the Re
publican party, the creator OF the New
York Tribune, is neither an im5ecile nor
a knave II must be recolected that he
has been for many years past one OF the
most conspicuous figures IN the public
eye; in some respects the most con
spieuous He has continuously edited the
leading newspaper of his party and OF
the country. His record is all down in
black and white any one can tumble it
over and select points of attack at
leisure as Mr.. Chandler and his gov
ernment clerks are doing. he has
moved constantly in a glare of light.
How many of our politicians could have
borne the test as be has doCe? How
many, as it is, can safely challenge a
comparison of records Certainly not
General Grant, who to be sure, is but a
young politician. Certainly not Mr..
Henry Wilson. Horace Greeleys mis-
takes and infdeities to himself have
been for the most part in little things
in great things he has rarely been found
wanting. The two guiding stars of his
political course have been human rights
and protection TO American industry.
II ow steadily he has steered by them in
all kinds of weather the country knows.
Granted that he has an uncertain
.emper, an appetite for fattery, and an
mpatience of criticism. which sometimes
1etray him to his own hurt This is
merely to concede that he is a human /
N perfectious. Al the same, he has /
ig heart that is ever quick to beat for
he down trodden and the oppressed;
ig brain that has left its mark upon the |
linking and doing of this young repub-
c a stout will that has brought him
lfeIy through many trying ordeals, aud |
arried him over many hard experiences, /
patriotism that no honest man will /
uestion; n philanthropy that no just
ian can think OF save with tender re-
pect and gratitude. Aud the American
eopie know it.