The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-24

.166.
their SURFACES in favor OF his adversary, wht
had but recently emerged from the party op
posed to their emancipation. but now invok
ing their support as a vehicle of partisan
supremacy. .S.1t
History abounds in Instances justItyIng the
charge of the lngratltude of republics, but the
1ngratitude OF this race towards their bene
factor will long furnish q striking demonstra
t1on that gratitude is a high order OF human
impulse developed greatly by intelligence
and rare are the instances where the orlglna
tors OF reforms or revolutions, and those who
have sacrificed themselves In the early strug
giles OF q people, have been gratefully remem'
bered, while the rewards usually fall to those
who espouse the cause after success Is beyond
question.
But Mr.. Greeley has chiefly impressed him.
self on the age by those manly acts of indie.
pendence and firm persistent support of prin'
ciples which commended themselves 10 bis
individual Judgment and conscience, disregard
ing popular clsmor or the more seductive In
fuences OF priva'e Interests or friendly per
suaslon. His untiring industry and thrift, bis
love of knowledge, aud his extraordinary
success In rising from the obscure station of
q journeyman printer to the distinguished po-
sitlon of the first journalist of the age, and
the support OF m lions Of his countrymen for
tho chief maglstracy of the. nation, most OF
whom were his biLterest opponents a few
years since, are we'll calculated to Inspire our
young men to emulate hls mental and physi-
cal industry, self-conbdence and the honesty
inspired by them, and to rejoice in the priVl-
leges aud encouragement OF our glorious
form OF government by which this New Eng
land boy OF humble parentage, and Without
| oooiol oduortoo aa an aolf.rdDnpti0n- Waa on.
| abled TO accomplish 10 this great nation.
Had this New Eugland lad, while engaged
In the humble avocatiens OF his fathers little
farm In the cotd. and sterile but beautiful
mountains of his native Vermont, fallen Into q
that place In the public estimation which bis
obsequies developed-theJ great metropolis
and other cities of bis country draped In the
sable habiliments of BnSrow, the press of the
whole country, and mGny Of them In foreign
lands, devoted TO his eulogy, the telegraph load
ed with messages CT every incident OF bis last
moments, which q craving public desired to
read. Dying lamented and honored by even
his most .iecided opponents. and followed to
the grave by the President Of the United
States and distinguished henderson, the gov
eminent, and of Congressman, who had trav-
elled many miles to perform the melancholy
duty Of respect.
All this reality of respect and affection TO-
wards a character far from perfect; like all
strong men his virtues had their correspond
Ing vices and weaknesses, and bis political
career by no means free from grave faults,
and measures which cannot be justified. A
strong and fertile soil nurtures weeds as we'll
as flowers, and tares cannot be safely ex-
tracted, we are divlEsly Informed, without
the danger Of roofing up the wheat also. But
when we delineate the features Of q great
character who enjoys a large share OF public
esteem, perhaps II would be well to follow the
example OF the Grecian artist, who, being re.
quested to paint q distinguished ruler who
had lost ar eye without showing that defect
In the portrait, gave q truthful representation
BY painting q side face, which exhibited the
perfect organ towards posterity. The advice
or Sir Joshua Reynolds to an art critic may
not be without, force 10 this connection.
"Art," said he, 'like everything human, Is
imperfect, and II you. wish ts enjoy 1t, prac.
tice the art yourself of avoiding the blemlshes.
and direct your attention to the beauties of
each picture. This amiable habit will afford
you a greater means Of enjoyment; without
practically delracting from the truthfulness OF
your descriptions.
God knows the rising generation have
t%icians, without any redeem'ng qualities
to pervert their tastes and discourage
their patriotism, without unnecessarily em-
phaslZlng occasional defects 10 the few we'll
balanced examples which modern times az
fords US. Mr. Greeley was o man Of sympa-
thetlo and noble impulcss. his liberallty far
Iutran his means, and bis manly persistence
In always following the dictates of his kindly
purposes often subjected him to abuse and
misrepresentation, even from his political az
soclates, who were unable to comprehend the
utility and breadth II Of bis principle OF action.
When the unwarrantable Interference of the
Radicals of The North With the institutions and
constitutional rights OF the South. INFLATED
that Ill judged means of resistance by q war
against the Federal authority, Mr. Greeley's
haired Of war, and his we'll grounded fears
of the effect OF civil war on the future of our
country, disposed him to concede secession as
q choice Of evils, rather than confront the
effects which civil war had produced In all
countries. And who Is now wise enough to
fathom the consequences OF the corruption
and sectional hatred entailed by that war, to
say nothing Of the evils of centralized power,
and the destruction OF local self7government,
and the building up of prodiglous moneyed
corporations which now seriously embarrass
honest legislation, and openly corrupt
the highest sources OF justice ! 1t is to
be feared that In our exaggerated fear OF dis
union, we ara Idlsregardlng imminent sources
of real danger by the corrupt use OF power
and the disregard of the organic law quite as
destructive OF national unity and far more
uduScEOuS W tu0 luuifluuoi ilUCilS vi tuO Sht1
zen.
No one sustained the government and the
Union during the wal with more zeal and
ability than Mr.. Greeley, yet true TO bis gen.
erous sentiments and impulses, he was con-
SANITY negotiating for peace by every source
open to him and when he had the liberalttY and
manliness to become the bondsman of Jefferson
Davis and was assailed by the abuse OF Radi-
calls and threatened with expulsion from the
Loyal League Club, which had formerly wor-
shipped him, he simply defed them, and prop.
erly characterized them 10 his reply as o set OF
laundering blockheads, willing to do right,
but without capacity.
At the close Of the wal impoverished South
ern editors visited New York to obtain the
means of reinststing their business. Many OF
them brought Introductory letters TO myself,
aud I invariably introduced them to Mr..
Greeley, at his own request. who, In every
Gaze, lent them his credit asd influence. One
day, I met him In Wall street, and he said,
"You did not bring Mr.. -- to see me ?"
Now, the gentleman alluded to was The most
violent, consistent and powerful advocate of
secession, and his journal the leading organ
of the extreme South, whose spirited articles