New-York tribune., 1872-12-04
THE MOST MISSED BY HIS CoUNTRYMEN

From TIE Missouri RsputHean.
The swift scdrel to the Presidential contest
of the almost tragic end OF one OF the distinguished
Horace Sreecy Is dead. The fierce resentments Of
which no The object and which were slow ana sui
len subIdc, after the canvass OF which they
formed part, will now at least disappear since the OBJ
ject u them has departed and will be permitted u
reconsider and their estimates Of the actors and
There is something mournfu and touching the
abrupt untmey death of this distinguished citizen
the Presidency has been for 25 years actively and
persseDty before the eyes of the American people than
The death his wife the heat OF the Presidential
battle, his crushing defeat in that battle, the I'M
answerabe shouts Of the vicOrs his discontinue,
and the demands for measures of osracism against him.
the spirited card in which he announced his return to HE
TRIBuNE, me omlnOuS in4Cllty OF ms pen that iOi-
lowed, and the dismal half-suppressed rumOrs OF ms
mental Illness which then reached us-ll cOnSpre 10
make his fate more cruel one than ne deserved ana 10
extOt even from his enemies the justice they denied
whatever may be the estimates Of Mr. Greeleys char
ncer formed by his they cOncede
deny that he was statesman, retormer paIlo ana
useful partisan-lt viii be admitted by All that ne VIII
be missed by his cOuntrymen than any other pub
lie man that could be named.
He certainly lacked the rugged lnsenslOlnty Ihat n
should the attribute OF trained statesman; mad he
possessed H. he would stil be living Tor there Is ttle
doubt that the modification OF defeat ana the pueSs
mOckery of his motives in daring 10 be the Democratic
candidate were the cause OF his death.
When we remarked the admirable compOsure and self
possession which he exhibited on ms campaign tour
through Pennsy yana ONO ana ih9laua, we lopeu tne
exgencies Of great occasion had deNelOpeu N MN an
community that the promise or many years OF use
fuiDess. .
This hope strengthened when, immediately after
the election he addressed himself 10 nis old editorial
autes that seemed to show that his defeat
had left no mark upon his spirit.
became evident that he was not sustaining
the defiant part which his card exhibited. The bruises
and wounds which he sought to hide doing their
fatal work: aud the rst whispered rumOr OF his
illness was the country, 1t was felt that his
usefulness II not his life, was ended.
Horace Greeley a vehement partisan, but he was
neither selfish nor remOrseess: the contrary, he
gentle generous ana this Is the true explanation of
the singular that he was for the greater portion OF
his life the leading champion of antiSlayeTyism and
for the few days OF his life the accepted leader OF
the Democracy in a Presidential contest.
He was not an accomplished supervising Journalist,
but he unsurpassed newspaper writer; and
though THE TRIBUNE has for many years past been un
der charge of managing editor who had discretion
ali things prepared fOr except what Mr. Greeley wrote,
Is what Mr. Greeley wrote that first founded and after
ward sustained its character.
His habits industrious and the amount OF labor
he was capable OF and willing TO do prOdgiOus. HIS
vital powers were, doubt impaired by the excessive
work he gave TO eXacng and harasslng profession;
but the defeat in the late election that broke down
his yigOr aud ended his life.