, 1872-12-26

~%e-
tha lsta Mr, Greeley, bit there was . phase OF
it to which specific al}rsIon mnst yet in justice
be made. So much Of bis lie and strength vas
given to politics, he vas 80 identified with the
partisan struggles OF his time, SO warm an nd
mirer and so good 5ater Of the course OF pub
lie men, 50 staunch Whig and 80 uncompromls~
ing Republican IS to principles, however
little he might regard names, that men came
not naturally to th,nk .ona q be ,nora nm cnr
ousfy nnjnst. No critical Judgment could he
more easily and 8pthoritatiTe}y refnted. !t'a as
it one who is always giving should be charged
with seifshness; - If u liberal religonist should
be accused OF the theological batreds. AL who
have been other than careless readers OF the
Tribune know that, in the conduct OF this news
paper, he never suffered himself to be betrayed
By any considerations Of party e1pedl.
enc sasy nn a5o AZ H. %ss aa9e IS shp
censor OF those with whom he WAS allied "a OF
those to whom ho was usually opposed: Ae Was
never for moment blind to the mistakes and
yoisdeeds Of those with whom he was politically
associated Az he was in the beginning, so he
continued to the end. for accusations OF lncon-
fisteucv did not in tho least frighten him from
saving that which be believed to be true. How
little lie was merely party man, is evident
from the fact that scores OF public characters
who we're noYninally with him. we're constantly
and noisy Accusing him OF treason, and vera just
as constantly laughed 1t TOR their pans. NO
member OF the party was go often reaa !. oat OF OF
IT, ~'--~~-y -
tie Tribune az thoae which called themselves
| Republicans. When poor, struggling, and Al
most without any sace political 1rlenda, ne sa!o
in the advertisement at the first number OF thus
filtration " & frank and cordial, but mainly and
independent support, Judging it always by lts
acts. and commanding those only 30 far IS
they shall seem calculated to subse1ve the
great end ot FL SS %eaig as;a o. tas
afterTard, ts wss the establishment Of . journal
| removed alike from servile partlsanship on the
nand and from gagged minelng 4sa neutrality
| happy medium between these extremes 81 posi-
ton from which journalist might openly and
heartily advocate the principles and commend
| the measures Of that purity to which his con-
victions allied him, yet frankly. dissent from
it's course on particular question, and even
denounce its candidates If they were shown to
be deficient in capacity or (far Worse) in lnteg-
| rity felt that journal thus loyal to it's guild
ing conviction, get ready to expose and condemn
unworthy conduct OF Incidental error on the part
Of men attached to It's party, must be tsr more
effective, even pa1ty-wise, than though it might
always ba counted on to applaud or reprobate,
| bloss OF curse, AZ the party's prejudices or i'm
mediate interests might seem S 70 prescribe st h
| journal founded by Mr. Greeley with such noble
| resolution, adheripg to these catholic md con-
| scientious principles, became strong and pros
! perops; and ne ask Of thousands upon thous~
a century have been daily observers Of the Tyib-
/ 1tne il, under the Immediate direction OF under
Il inspiration OF Mr. Greeley, it has ever, max
ing due allowance for human infrmlty, fallen be-
low the standard which from the first he deter
j mined upon. 1t was Wing journal, bnt #as it
. ever the unquestioning slaSe Of the Wing party
or the Whig leaders? It was Republican jour-
nal, but did it ever seek to hide the fantB or to
extenuate the errors Of the Republican leaders
, When was it the custom OF Mr: Greeley to rake
| measures upon trust7 When did he fear, while
| fayoripg the candidates Of . Convention, to cast
| contempt upon 80 much OF it's platform as
failed to commend itself to his head or
to his heart? So wen was this under
stood in all political circles, that his sup
! port Of any party measure years ago ceased to
BE- counted as matter Of course, 80 that when
he did heartily acquiesca in shy policy his ccpn-
tensnce had q yalue indeed! Yet some persons
protegaod to be- infinitely astonished when he de-
clned to support General Grant for reelection: !:
/ those who were honored by bis confidence knew
! that his determination had nothing whatever to
! do with his own nomination. This TaB in q man
aer forced upon him by circumstances. His own
auccesB and that of the cause committed to his
hands we're naturally identified in his Owl mind !;
/ it WAS easy to say when he was grieving for the
country that be VAS gTiepipg for himself but
| those who dippantly uttered such suggestion
were absolutely incapable OF appreciating the
rare nobility OF his nature. He Was q public
/ creature, and had nothing so much at heart as
! the fidelity Of his country to her professions.
| he was OFTEN hardly less ap11ous and peTturEed
| at crises when he was Within named nor thought
! Of for otica.
There is the party man who is nothing more
than mere politician; whose days are spent in
the management Of intrigues, and whose nights
/ are full OF dreams OF aggrandizement and OF
! personal preferment; who thinks that no bill
| can be passed and no candidate elected except
| By stratagem; who fancies that mean and nous
I ing ways are always best, il not noblest; Who,
| in selecting nominees, does not eak whht are
! their qualifications or What their characters,
| whispers in 1obbies and who guesaes in con-
| ferences; who is sure that every one has his
price, and that he is to be bought if only that
pEice can be psid; who has reduced our 4meri-
can politics to the Low level Of q gamblng-game
and the Presidential canvass to something
hardly better than sharp commercial transao-