Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-12-19
Greeley's Political Character.

| Greeley,s Political Character.
Mr.. Greeley was, by nature and by
education, opposed to every system
of human injustice. He tested all
Questions by inqulrlng whether it
was for the general good, and wheth
er it involved the oppression OF 9th
ers' 1t was immaterial whether q
measure 0, policy was proposed by
hi, party, by his personal friends, or
by his advcfsaries if it involved in
justice, il it recognized human op-
preston, If 1t degraded one man to
elevate another, he rejected it, and
no efforts OF friends or exigencics OF
party could induce him TO swerve
from his convictions OF right. Hence
! 1t was that, from the very earliest
lays, he was regarded as an uncer-
tain party man. He was accused Of
eccentrici,y, charged with moral
cowardlce, and frequently branded as
an apostatc, because he would not
yield his judgment and approve what
he tcit to be wrong, nor blindly toll
low party iii cause he was con.
vinced was unjust. It is popular, we
know, to accuse Mr.. Greeley OF a
propensity to separate from his
friends jrst at the moment when his
services were most needed, and this
has been attributed to an excessive
personal vanity, and TO an erra,ic, cx.
perimentsl disposition that was nuv-
er at rest But it should be re:nen
bcred that this estimate OF Mr.. Gree
ley has been taken i'll every ease
from the standpoint Of party; it pre-
supposcs that the party was, IN all
instances, right, and that he was
wrong, and it OF necessity rests upon
that greatest Of all monstrosltics
of doctrine, that, when man belongs
to political party, he must have no
opinions or judgments of his own,
and much less express them, but
must follow wherever he may be led,
without asking a question or doubt
ing tie wisdom of his leader So
long as the intaliibilitY OF party Is
recognized, the Judgment that he
was erratic will hold good; but,
among men who conceae that parties
have no control over the conscienecs
ard intellect o. even their own mem
bers, qaestion will be, Was Greeley
or the party right ?--or, Ought Gree
ley. honestly convinced that he WAS
right, 70 have surrendered his judg.
ment 10 that of others, whose primal
object was party success, without
reference to considerations of right
or wrong?
Mr.. Greeley was intellectually
great lie was an incess.nt student.
The whole realm OF knowledge was
explored by him. His range of in
formation was extraordinary. He
was familiar with all practical sub
iects. His knowledge was rarely su.
perticiaI. Whatever information he
acquired, he sought to make useful
TO mankind. His mental erganiza
ton was extremely active. He was
inccssant in his labors. He had trav-
elled much, and each days journey
was 10 him lesson filled with intor-
nation, OF which he made practical
use Nothing escaped his notice
nothing was forgotten. HIS mind
was a storelouse, from which he con
s,an,ly drew facts for the instruction
of others. HIS addresses on non po-
li,ical subjects have been not only
numerous but haYe been as popular
in one part of the country as in
another. Like his editorial; writings,
! they have always been marked with
vgor OF thought and fiuency OF cx
p, ession.
Mr. Greeley, however, is best
known, and his name viii De remem-
bered longest, IN connection with the
New York Tribune, not as Whig
organ, but as the fearless opponent
OF Slavery. In spite OF his indepen-
lencc, his association with the Wing
party hampered his intellect and
chained his energies. When that
party went down i'll the defeat OF
1852, he was cmancipated, and at
once gave freedom to his battle
against Slavery. The New York
Tribune was no longer party organ;
it became the champion OF Freedom,
the champion OF men held in slavery
the champion Of Free R"pub!ic.-
As such, it found ready audience. In
the years following the repeal OF the
Missouri Compromise, until the Re.
publican party was An organized
body an, installed in power, the New
York 2ribaae was power in the
land. Restrained by no platforms
by no considerations OF mere expe,
llency, by the hopes OF candidates,
it made the direct in behalf OF the
principles of Truth, Freedom aud
Justice. 1t fired the Northcrn heart
it reused the slumbering instincts O
human justice il tore men from Old
party associations; il placed the ques
ton in the light that men had tt
choose between Right and Wrong
/, ,eyolutionized public sentiment