New-York tribune., 1872-10-18
A CLUE TO CLEWS.

TO the BdtfOr or The Trt0hne'
SIR: When man sets himself up as a guide
for other men, assumes in the name Of the bankert
and business men Of the country 10 advise and instruct
the whole public whom II ia safe or unsafe 70 Vot'
for President in view Of vast business interests
the management OF his business in cases where tho
interests of Others involved. becomes proper
subject for investigation and criticism An intelligent
public before accepting the dotum Of such person s
nfallbe will naturally desire 10 know whether he has
by far-seeng enterprise and extraordinary business
ability achieved that exalted reputation and success
which should justify his pretensions; and they WILL no
doubt wish to know not much that he has been sue
cessful III business honOraby successful
Mr.. Henry Clews pOmpOusly informs tho public thai
tho business interests OF the country cannot stand the cleo
ton Of Horace Greeley Light already been thrown
upon Mr. Cewss transactions with the State Of Georgia.
and the hlgh-tOned course he pursued in the Bglns
wick and Albany Railroad business But lest this sh0u
not commend him to the public as great fnancor and
statesman and therefore safe guide and instructor It II
proposed briefly somewhat further his brilliant
and honorable q banker aud man Of business
propose to look at few OF the financial enterprises
which have been launched upon the mar
kets OF tho world backed up by NJ.
Clews, and SEQ what has become Of them-see how
many of them have justified the recommendations d
their backer and returned to plague the inyer
Tor What reader at all familiar with the history o.
Wa-st can have forgotten the flaming advertisements
and nnumerabe circulars issued Ostentaousy from the
"banlng-hOuse Of Henry Clews Co." highly recon-
mendng and indOrsng worthy the attention OF cap
taiist the bonds OF the Rockford and Rock Island Rail
way ComDanyf In the sound opinion of Mr. Clews these
bonds the best securities going, and savings banks
insurance companies, 10 nothing OF the mechanic
and wOrkingman who might have boarded few dollars
from limited weekly earnings, were cordially invited u
and parae Of the good things offered them at th,
low prce of 90 and accrued interest before il should be
everlastngy late Who does not remember that the
interest on these bonds was in default the
tire loan had been marketedi And who will wonder
that considering the part played by him IN THIS game OF
occult thimberggng, Mr. Cews Is OF opinion that the
business interests Of the country would suffer by tue
Another case OF the wonderful foresight and business
sagacty Of Mr. Clews instanced in the marketing OF
the bonds OF the Alabama and Chattanooga RalWay
Company, which to grief early In 1870, after brief
existence Of few months, wnen the holders OF the
bonds who had taken Them the faith or the indOrse
ment Of this eminent fnancer compelled 10 fOregO
the interest 10 which they were justly entitled even not
the gOOdy portion OF the principal What about
overdue Interest on the Selma and Gull bonds or the
North Carolina Special Tax bonds fasc0, the Latter OF
which exercised so much OF the latent talent OF this
were quoted at and II per cent a month In
the outside market as the best price they would
cOnmandi To go back 20 earlier date,
what pleasant recoections those favored friends Of Mr..
Cews must retain, who his advice embarked their
fortunes in OHIO aud Mississippi Railroad stock at prices
ranging above 60 for rsel ANA st later those VINO
adhcrng To his unerTing sagaclty were so severely
crippled in gold two occasions, and notably n
1862 when this gifted financial genius found such trouble
in keeping his head above water that C8sarike he
cried TO Secretary Boutwell, "Help me Cassius, or
sink :" Can Mr. Clews point to than instance
in which any enterprise with which his has been
prominently associated has not come TO grieft Can he
his friends point TO than one where his re-
Communications and advice have not proved disastrous
those who have followed themi BY what process OF
reasoning then should Mr. CleWs's opinions 10 any
supposed financial peril which might result from the
election of Mr.. Greeley have any weight, when by the
light past events il conclusYely proved that his
opinions advice, and recommendations are equally un-
trustworthy BROAD STREET
Hev-Iork oct t. 1872.