The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-12-04
Death Of Horace Greeley.

Horace Greeley, the great journ-
alist and editor Of the Tribune, died
on last Thursday night, His dis
ease was great nervous prostratlon
produced by the trying scenes OF
the last few weeks-the death OF
his wife, and his sore defeat for the
Presidency. y
The accounts published of MIR.
Greeloy's last moments represent
him to>have( been conscious during
the day, ,,asis usialin cases of infiam-
nation Of the brain. His physical
sutferiEg was extremely sight, but
an ipcreascd\m morbid action Of the
mind was evident from exterior
manifestations. He was asked,
I"Do YOU know that you are dying? ?"
Nithout tremor or emotion, he an
swered, "Yes::'' Again, when asked
| if he recognized Mrs. Reid he
looked up with Immediate recogni-
ton, and lifting his hand, grasped
Mr.. Reid feebly, and said distinctly,
eyes" His last words were, 'It is
done.'' The face hardly changed,
only settling a little into a look of
perfect peace, -
The Tribune says: 'The melan-
choly death of the editor and found
er of the Tribune, though for a few
days it had been expected by his
family and intimate friends, falls
upon us with all the shock ofssud-
den calamity He had reached,
indeed, a Gpe old age; but time
had MQtIaid its whitening, touch
upon N. lis splendid constitu-
ton easilAbore the strain Of. :enor-
mory labor\ His mind was as fresh,
andy strong, Snd suggestive as in
the primo oklife. His generous
Impulses were unchilled by dis
yheartening experience. Through
( the trying campaign which has just
closed, his physical vigor, his tact
and his intellectual activity. sur
prised even those who knew him
best, and seemed to promise many
years of usefulness. 1t is certain
that no history Of the most critical
period in our national life can be
written in which Horace Greeley
shall not be a conspicuous figure
But the noblest career, in his eyes
was that,Which is given up to others
wants. The successful life is that
which is worn out in conflict with
wrong. and woe. The only ambitio;
worth following was the ambition
to alleviate human misery, and
leave the world a little better thar
he found it. That he had done il
was the consolation which bright
encd his last days, and assured hin
he had not lived in vain. 1t is moi
for us, in the first hour Of our loss
to paint his character or catalogue
his virtues; although for severa
months wehave missed the inspira
ton Of his presence and the guid
ance of his wise counsel. Iii:
spirit bas' never ceased to animate
those chosen to continue his works
and the close bond of sympathy
4 between the chief and his assistants
has never been broken. We leave
his praises to the. poor, whom he
succored; to. the rlowIy, whom hi
lifted up; to the slave, whose back
he saved from the lash; to the op
pressed, whose wrongs he made biz
: own.' E>
The Herald, in its editorial OF
}, Greeley, says: 'He has, in mista
ken aspiration for. higher field O
usefulness, and power,i and glory
than journalism, fallen assacritice t.
his political ambition. He hae
failed to appreciate the command
!. ing position Which he had secnret
as IA leading American Journalist
,kmd leaving it to pursue the lgni
.tatstus of the Presidency, he dropped
the substance for the shadow of I
great. distinction. Otherwise, thu
history Of the enduring. rewards o
Mr.. Grecley's industrious and use
fnl career are full of encouragement
to young men, who, without capital
personal influence or powerful
friends, have the battle of life be
: fore them" l2%:
| nr,rrr M, AN oTn HTTT1EN Mr.