The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-06-14
Mr.. Greeley's Letter OF Acceptance.

Mr.. Greeley's Letter OF Acceptance.
Mr.. Greeley's letter seems TO have had
two principal objects: one to illustrate
what he considers as his superior apt
ness in casting phraseology of a plat
form and the other TO make the
stronges possible bid for Democratic
votes. Mr.. Greeley did not need to
prove that he can write English, and the
task which he has executed of recasting
and rewriting the Cincinnati platform,
is neither respectful to the Convention
that nominated him, nor quite decorous
in man who, having renounced jour.
nalism, and consented to be put forward
as a statesman, still makes merit Of
his skill IN shaping phrases which is
the talent of a mere AterateT. Mr..
Greeley, who has spent forty years of his
life, and acquired all his reputation, as
mere writer, naturally values himself
on his own accomplishment. He has
given the only instance in our history
of a candidate for President restating at
length the platform of the Convention
that nominated him, in his letter of
acceptance, with view to show Oft his
financial skill in English composition.
What is wanted in a President is sa-
gacily, insight, and forecast; not ability
to turn phrases. If Dean Richmond
were still alive there is no New York
Democrat who does not believe that he
would make a far ADLER and more saga.
cious President than Mr.. Greeley; but
had he been nominated for that office,
he would have been compelled to EN-
ploy some other pen than his own to
write his letter of acceptance. The
talent of q clerk or secretary is not what
we want in President. Surprising
Dean Richmond still alive, and elected
to that office, Mr.. Greeley might make
good figure as his chief clerk. But
there is never any difficulty in find.
ing abundance of men who can put
document into proper shape, when a
man of superior sagacity has given
them its points and substance We
| suppose Gen. jackson was one of our
most illustrious Presidents. Oliver
Cromwell was one OF the greatest states.
men that ever appeared in the world; but
Cromwell had not much more literary
skill than our own Dean Richmond.
All genuine statesmen appreciate the
|
cordingly, such statesmen as have hap
| pened TO possess some skill in the use
of language, have sedulously kept that
qualification in the background. They
have known that it can always be had
at call that 1t is the qualification Of a
secretary rather than of statesman
that wise measures, not apt phrases,
are what we are entitled to expect from
man at the head of affairs. Mr..
Greeley virtually confesses that he is
mere clerk and not statesman, by his
elaborate recital of the points OF the
Cincinnati platform, with a view to
show off his superior skill in state.
ment. If he accepts the Cincinnati
platform, why could he not have said so
In plain language, " like man of this
world" instead of virtually saying to
the country, Behold how much more
tersely | can write than the Commit.
tee who drafted the Cincinnati plat.
form If mere talent for compo.
sition were the chief qualification for
President, there is many reporter on
our metropolitan journals who would
have higher claims to that office than
even Charles Francis Adams. Skill. in
pharse making is a trivial accomplish.
ment ; and yet this is the only thing in
which Mr.. Gree .ey excels. He has no
steadiness of judgment; no admins.
tratve capacity he is easily gulled by
fiatterers if elected, he would be a.
constantly in hot water as he was dur.
ing the brief period he served in Con.
gress, when he was regarded as a
nuisance 10y the members OF both
parties. His officious rewriting Of the
Cincinnati platform. which he acknowl-
edges is succinctly and ably expressed,
is such display of weak literary van
ity, and such parading of his ability
TO write good English, "a shows that he
was not born to be statesman. States
manship deals with things, not with
phrases. If Mr.. Greeley approves and ac-
cepts the Cincinnati platform which he
praises and applauds, why need he have
rewritten il in his letter of acceptance ?
II is an offensive assumption of superb
ority TO the committee who drafted the
resolutions, and "smells of the shop
in which Mr. Greeley has so long worked
A journalist must be able to write that
is his function. Bnt it is the business
of statesman TO direct and judge and
this faculty may, or may not, be ac'
companied with writing ability. Mr.
Greeley's letter of acceptance proves
that he is a mere journalist, and
nothing else. His elaborate rewriting
of the Cincinnati platform is such an
assumption of superiority in minor mat
ter, as the committee that prepared the
resolutions Will naturally resent; at ali
events, 1t is a most unexampled thing
in letter of acceptance.
SO far as Mr.. Greeley's remodeling Of
the Cincinnati platform has any politi.
cal bearing, its significance consists in
his shaping it with view to catch Dem