The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-12-03
FoRNEY's TRIBUTE TO GREE.
EEY,
A Bright star Quanched.

"a "tABhA SL0I NLQouChCuS
tFron the Philadelphia Press)
No shock siuce the death Of Charles
Dickens has shaken so many hearts as
the death Of Mr.. Greeley. II comes like
blow in the dark. One OF the rarcst
characters in history Is suddenly dropped
from the ranks Of mea. A model life,
lived in exemplary honor, stops in an in.
slant, likea piece Of mechanism that had
worn so long thatme believed it without
tiaw. Horace Greeley was in certain
sense beyond criticism. His aim was al
ways high. His very errors resulted from
his humanity. His own inconsistencies
were explained by his readiness to for.
give the inconsistencies of others. Even
his ambition was tie offspring Of his tol.
GRAFTON. Benevoleuce was the inspiration
Of his whole being. BE could no more re.
sist an appeal to it by varquished sec.
ton than be could turn the beggar from
his door. And so his weakness became
his strength. 1t impressed millions
with belief in his personal integrity, and
converted foes into friends. Conscious
Of his unstained reputation, be was brave
in doing difficult and unpopular things.
But he had mighty helper in the brain
that fortified his heart. He had double
shield in his generosity and his genius.
How freely he gave to the suffering how
splendidly he wrote for the Right! He
fought with resistleSs force against op-
preston though utterly unable 10 fight
for himself BE was thunderbolt against
slavery, but very reed in the hands Of
the politicians. The hosts he educated 10
oppose the rebellion were too strong tor
him when he tried TO forgive tho rebel
lion. And when no found himself mis-
understood and even maligned by those
who had been trained by his hand, and
had willingly followed his teachings like
gospel-when defeat for the Presidency
and death at his own fireside folded close.
ly their black shadows around him-his
honest nature gave way and his generous
heart broke.
Horace Greeley was an uncommon az.
gregate- he possessed something more
than what is called ability. His gifts and
his resources were prodigious. He al.
most Invented language, II to create a
new style may be so designated. He
revolutionized Journalism by his nervous
dicdon, his skilliul innovations, his price,
less utilities. He reached more con,
sciences than any writer Of his era. He
destroyed prejudices and populated
convictions with equal success. Otter
mistaken, he was always happy in the
consciousness that he was right and hC
was resistleSs when he had q Just cause
and turned minorities into majoritIes Will
magical ease.
| OF course, in q character 50 copious o.
ideas and so full Of work, there are faults
yet admit them, and remove them, anC
there remain marvellous lesson, an en-
during memory, wholesome example
You can number his errors on your hand
but who shall count his victories? Hi
rise from the printing office to the edito
rial peerage, where he sat crowned auc
glorious in wGll.won laurels; his spotlesl
private worth; his temperance, simplicity
and candor; his Franklin precepn tol
young and old; his love for his kindred
and his friends; his war against slavery
his fight for excepionless education anC
equality his protest against Legislative
and municipal corruption; his oyerpower
ing crusade against free trade, and hi
staunch championship OF the rights Of Ia,
bor-these are his titles Of nobility, sell.
secured, brighter and moro enduring thar
II conferred by q college Of kings,