The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-31
HORACE GREELEY AS A STATESMAN

What Horace Greeley was in war we all
know; the extent of his craftsmanship in
peace is what puzzles the present genera
ton of readers and thinkers, and leaves to
the future antiqnist the most perpexing of
unsolved problems in human history and
politics. When firm and decided atti-
tude on the part of the North, as to the
ri right Of secession, seemed imperatively de-
msnded in 1860, we find Greeley adyocs-
ting the right until the voice of remoh-
STRANGE was so loud and indignant as al
most to shake the Tribune bulldog to its
foundation, before he needed it. When,
during the first two years of the war, mod
GRAFTON was needed to secure the support of
the moderate men of the country, Greeley
was the most radical of all the extremists.
When Abraham Lincoln was carrying the
country through its most critical period,
acting on the principle of "doing or for.
bearing to do,'' as doing or forbearing
would save the Union, Horace Greeley
placed every possible embarrassment in his
way. He suddenly changed his tactics
E whenever change imperiled the fortunes
of the hour; and as doggedly adhered to
his crotchets when such adherence could
serve no possible end but that of defeat to
70 our cause. fHt l-i P
From a supporter Of the right Of seces.
sion, he became the leader of a campa gu
of hate advocating a war of cxtermina-
tiou--that the people Of the South might
find poverty at their firesides, and see
privation in the anxious eyes of mothers and
the rags of children" This was the atti-
tude of Mr.. Greeley while the armies Of the
' North were s. overwhelming the rebellious
traitors in the field" and /" scattering them
like leaves before an angry wind" But
when General Lee was marching North, and
it looked as though the tread of hostile ar
mics was coming little nearer home
when he was watering his horses in the
dsquehannah-Gre was ready to sue
for peace at almost any price. And even
when General Grant had driven the rebel
lion to its last ditch, Greeley was bob
bing around with his proposition TO pay
four hundred millions of dollars for..what
no longer had an existence in faet--the
"malignant cause according to II. G. of
the Var itself" This is Greeley's yacillating
record during the war. Ii should satisfy the
most enthusiastic Greeley adnirer that he
is no statesm an in war. a '1ag sl
But how is it to be in peace? What as
surance are we to have that he will not
prove the same unstable wcathercoct that
he showed himself to be in war. States.
manship demands first of all stability Of
character; not a shifting, changing policy
every day in the year. To be a ruler Of
men is to command your own spirit-to
stand as pillared rock against the temp
ests that shake the pusillanmous soul.
But this is not Mr.. Greeley. He can Meth
er command his own spirit, nor can he
stand before the storm-winds of popular
violence. At the first sign of discomfort in
Printins-IIouse Square carriage has inva-
riably been ordered to the bachelor Of
the Tribune building, when away went the
philosopher" as fast as the feetest horses
neclS could take him. -.f. s|
But no man can give sounder or more
correat idea of Mr.. Greeley's administra-
tive ability, than his old-time friend and
whileom admrer, William Cullen Bryant,
whose political antecedents would certainly
lead him to speak charitably of Mr.. Gree
ley. 1t is known that the New York Post,
under the editorship Of Mr.. Bryant, hesi-
tated for long time before it could come
out squarely for General Grant as against
the Cincinnati nominee. OF the specific
dangers of Mr.. Greeley's election, and the
character of his craftsmanship, such as it
IS, we commend the considerate opinions of
Mr.. Bryant as worthy of most careful
perusal. He says: ~ II -7