New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-19
HORACE GREELEY.
ENGLISH ESTIMATES OF HIS LIFE AND
WORK.

| LONDON, Dec. 3.-It ls not pleasant task
to summarize the English newspaper estimates OF Mr.
Greeley. have lived here long enough to make some
allowance for the spirit In which they written for
their incredible and vugarity OF VIEW for
their Phar Tone and for their ignorance Of facts
know perfectly well how possible IL is for cultivated
Englislman whom you find well informed, kindly and
wise topics within his range-that is on topics
not outside OF this island-to write on other
topics and show trace OF his better qualities and
habits OF mind. stlI cannot read without pain and
anger the English articles on Mr. Greeley, and as can
not expect his friends In America to feel less than do
make the allowance do had far rather send you
the papers in bulk and suppress all comment On Them
But suppose there is shutting ones eyes and
to things merely because they are unpleasant
may offer also word of explanation about them in adj
dtion to the explanation which lies in the nsuarity OF
the English view OF all outside matters believe gave
the same ina former letter in reference TO what was
said here Mr. Greeeys defeat for the Presidency
1t is simply that the English papers have adopted with
little reflection inquiry the views OF Mr. Greeeys OPP
ponents in America and have taken side with them just
they took sides with the Rebels during the war, and
for that could be shown be not very dssmiar
Unjust the English papers are, however, there Is
little no bitterness in what they say There are
only two or three-say morning and one evening
paper and, Of course. one weekly-whch really hate
America and the Liberalism OF America, end which write
about American affairs with spitefulness. The Times IL
old enemy OF ours but though 1t cannot be said fear
to have experienced change OF heart 1t has changed
s greatly for the better aud discusses Ameri
subjects for part without acrimony. Ill
temper, bad language. In o long article on Mr..
Greeley, remarkng the ndomitabe energy OF his
character, 1t expresses the surprise and regret
with which It heard last week OF his dangerous
Illness. No account of his life is far from
being accurate. In respect to THE TRIBUNE -
which The Times has always dislied because OF its radi-
Ifu
that it primarily intended to propagate the most
advanced views OF political and social organization; but
1t adds that Mr.. Greeley was IN many important re-
spects sobered and meowed by age, and that during
the later period OF his edorship IL has been ably
written journal Of strong Radical principles modified
and sometimes separated from the Of the Repub
can party by the personal prejudces OF the editor
In particular" says The Times Mr. Greeleys fanat
zeal and neradcable hatred OF Free Trade brought his
paper into conflict with powerful and increasing
ton OF the party which 1t professed to represent" IL
would be unreasonable to ask The Times to that it
would be equally easy to describe its own position
founded though It be conviction and the circum
stances OF Great Britain in relation to tao rest
Of the world las fanatical and ineradIcabe
hatred Of Protection 1t goes over the history OF Mr.
Greeley relative TO the for the Union in tine spirit Of
which spoke just now, and him down as the dupe
the Southern refugees in Canada 1884, by whom 1t
alleges, he was used tool to injurc his own party
and the cause he had at heart His American Conflict
is referred To oosely-writen and untrustwOrthy
history of the war; but his bailng of Jefferson Davis
proved to The Times that he uugenerous enemy
1t doubts however, whether the policy afterward advo
Gated toward the South equally WISE and prove
how completely ignorant OF Mr. Greeley's policy
~-~,---- $3.50 49, ""S VPPV~~S special
guarantees for tho civil rights OF the eufran-
chised negroes. The nominations, both at OnOi.
natl and Baltimore, are spoken OF as prompted
by "factious leyity" aud this especially because Mr.
Greeley, beside being violent Pro,ectionls had ire
peaedy proclaimed his opinion that the public service
should be used reward political fidelity and had
shown singular hesitation in c0ndemning the infamous
corruption which, till atcg dissraeed the city OF New
York" This latter cumly is that has on several
occasions adorned tine columns of The Tunes and will
doubtless be pcrpctuated in It's Office settled con-
vction.
Ii might he supposed thatsoven The Times would have
n superfcial acquaintance with the leading facts OF
Americas political history for the last 80 years, but
what can be said Of it's statement that "Mr Greeley's
powerful but irregular miad vested force In poll
tics conceivable that The Times should not know
that Mr.. Greeley inoOmparaby the most effective
individual force In politics among the men who chose
polltics as method OF influence that being itself
the tleading Sjournal OF England it should DO
unaware that Tue TRIBUSEs influence has
been without parallel in American Yet, adds
The Times his strength of mind must be admitted, as
and the rude geniaty OF which raised the
printers boy foremost place among the public men
OF his day; all which qualities however, uncontrolled
as they were by prudence md by knowledge OF men,
would have been UNNECESSARILY dangerous In a ruler
The rest OF the world has also gained by his defeat for
Mr. Greeley had he been elected, might have done mis-
chief by attempting 10 translate into action that un-
reasoning anmosity toward England, that inscriptions
of her acts and motives to which he
paye the rel IN MS writings" will not return upon
The Tones in its reckless imputations OF INSCRIPTIONS
mesa 1t Is enough 10 say that those who Mr..
reeley's enemies home ere, believe, incapable OF
pursuing him in his grave with ISLANDERS VIGOROUSLY
unfounded as these Let tho FREQ Traders OF America
say also whether they have lost antagonist who
or was not formidable The Tinles thinks he not
In addition 20 its article of Saturday The Daily yeos
Of Monday publishes second filled with anecdoe aud
personal remniscence, with good many inaccuracies
which woui be annoying II the Intent and tone OF tho
whole account not evidently admirng and friendly
But need q4ote anything in addition 10 what gave
in a former letter.
II am to dWel all the mistakes in the English
papers, indeed should have done, and 1t will be
better TO turn to the Journal which in this re-
speet SURPRISES all its contemporaries The Daily Tcte
graph In felicity OF laundering on American matters,
that journal is perhaps without rival. Mr. Greeley
was born Vermont. The Telegraph, in one sem
tence in the next tells us that he migrated from his
native State OF New-Hampshire to New-York Further
on we are informed that IN establishing TIE TRIBUNE,
Mr. Greeley's ideal was 10 be the organ or
American literature; that this ideal was acted
up to faithfully. Yet in the next sentence
comes tho curious statement that In literary
ability THE TRIBUNE was inferior @ newspaper to
many OF It's competitors. We thus learn that mans
ideal of newspaper may be that 1t should be the organ
OF American lterature aud that when this ideal pur
pose has been accomplished faithfully the newspaper in
which has been accomplished is nevertheless Inferior
in literary ability to many others; following which is
the st puzzllng proposition that the newspaper