New-York tribune., 1872-12-02
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
. roucuNa PERSONAL TRIBUTE.

n
From TIE NeD- York LVo.A -, ..a
A great light OF American Soufnalism, anu
perhaps tho most remarkable Amer can OF % evcn
ing 1t has been lot to oenln t seb
surroundings and antecedents impressed . WIN ' "
of mournful. and tragic pathos. ~ ., Tho
That OF President Lincoln had indeed or fe short
horror OF certain kind Of stage effect; but daonost
OF this In the affecting appeal II makes to h, nower
sympathes OF our common human nature ana u e tbe
10 touch those deep welsprings Of feeling wch ~
we write these sad lines with tide OF emotion pou ing
comes man much less n Journalist in tho di =
charge of his public functions, 70 lot hi. feeling;
which takes possession OF US at this afllctye ter:
minaon OF great career and this terrible shifting OF
gifted douby orphaned daughters one In the bud ana
the other In the opening blossom OF beautiful woman
their parents under circumstances so hed 10 crush tne
My 0yt God sr py sSS bes the@ In their creou
0ng m i eER aSs oT ns w
may and excuses enough for the fond visions, with
which their young minds were many months dazzed OF
seeing tber ather the hOnOred heau OF tue nnop' anu
enjoying the pride he would have felt IN nations con-
The rude dashng of this cup from their lips was an
nfction. but atlcton which they would easily have
borne, caring little for it In their womanly fidelity.
pontment More prostrating strokes were in reserve
for them to darken their young, innocent lives.
The loss OF mother who had dotted on them, whose
first and last thought In the long OF her physical
in1rmty and suffering was devoted to their welfare,
cared anything for the result of The Presidential election
except far as they felt ts bearing on the happiness OF
Bat when he is so suddenly taken from them It must
be heart OF stone that does not cOmmserate tho fate Of
these gueless, most interesting unprotected orphans
Their YOUTH their their innocence, xperence, and
attractive personal qualities, must every feeling
lambs, TO whom the force Winter wind is not tempered
Poor Mr.. GREELEY is gone; and no coveted appreciation
can no longer soOthe, nor any censure wound him.
Perhaps no kindly human heart ever SO yearned for
sympathy or eagerly coveted or was so deeply crate
iul Tor, lust appreciation NO man VINO was q great
power in the politics OF his time was ever soar removed
from the character OF a stole.
Any friend who was free from all suspicion OF inter
ested motives could easily find the way to the inner
citadel OF his gentle heart Though an unsparing con-
troyersiast, he bore 10 malice even In the heat OF
political cOntenton and no man ever responded more
warmly to The personal esteem Of party anagonisss
course rested on footing Of the frankest, heartiest
goodwill; and there have been recent instances IN
which hegave his confidence to political opponents with
more trusting unreserye-if 1t were permitted us to
mention them.
But in ell such personal condolences. he was most
uncompromsng Of his opinions and his friends
outside of his own party could never for a moment
doubt that IL their persons not their politics. which
he tolerated 1t like the interchange OF courtesies
between the Officers Of hostile armies wherein nnh tba 5ae
tokens OF personal esteem leave no sort OF oout tna
each side will do his utmost in the next days battle
sonal worth imply no sort Of inHdey the for
which each party fights Men OF honor ana stable con-
yctons under obligation to. deny the virtues or
the abilities OF their adversaries. -
The heart of the present writer was enever so deeply
touched and moved as when, amid the stray Autumn
leaves falling from the trees OF Greenwood whe MIS-
Greeeys coffin, with Its coyerine OF Dlack coth I'VE re-
State we never saw q coffin which was not black, was
borne from the hearse to the opening OF the family
say we can never forget tho heartDreang impression
made upon us by Mr.. Greeleys fixed and most wstful
craving the deep sympathy to which long, intimate
relations entitled him, and which he could not doubt
that above all the other pallbearcrs, We were ready 70
give TO the bereaved husband, and the halforphaned,
Stricken daughters the petambs OF his fond' yearnng
It was the last time that his eyes and ours ever ex
changed afectionate. recognizing look; ana we de-
0lp lppf a
pathy into his craving responsive breast aer that SAD
upOn us will never be efaced TIL our dying day. We
beg that readers will pardon us for TINS unseemy mas
teIy which our emotions nave got over an haoilnaly
cold pen. Something must be pardoned to the intrmlty
We have really no heart for the duty which IA laid
upon us on this occasion. II feelings would permit
take the position OF mere outside spectators the III
thing for us to do woudlDe 10 make just, uDeolored
estimate Of Mr. Greeleys character aud career But the
circumstances Of his death strike US as so inexpressby
tragic and affecting that we have no command OF our
II is difficult TO think Of any thing beyond the grief
inspiring spectacle Of such death following swiftly
upon the eclipse aud extngushment OF the hopes
which Mr.. Greeley had good reasons for entertaining
during somo stages OF the recent crushing canvass.
The stars In their seemed to fight against
He returned from that fatiguing tour in the West in
which his faculties shode out in surprising blaze OF cui
minang spendor TO nd his poor wife In the last stages
OF her long decline and with devotion like tnat
which he felt in tho DAYS Of their early, youth,
ful love, before timea and disease had impaired
their first affection, he was constantly at her bedside,
with fidelity OF mnlstcfng anger, passing
days and seepless nights which, under less eXigent cir
eumsaBces would have been due 10 repose afer his re-
cent exhaustless laDOr5.
The strain upon hs,physic endur lnce, and the
tremendous upon his quick emotional susceptible
tics mush him. Tue bow was not only bent
but broken.
The strengthen constitution never weakened by any
other than Overwork gave way the chances o
life winch belonged to him by her dtary longevity b0th
father grandfather lived TO be upward Of eighty
squandered and the vessel 90 rudely tossed III
these recent tempests thrown upon the beach an
utter wreck. II is the saddest ending Of vigorously
useful life that have ever known.
We must defer, for a day two, the estimate which
great career journalist and his important relations
To the puOlc life OF the country How proceed
10 cool critical dissection Of his character while his
body is scarcely yet cold In the eonquernS embrace OF
death
We hope to recover sufficient equanimity for this
necessary task but do not possess 10 now. Had we
merely outside spectators OF lis LIE, this duty
might have been dnlcult but having been admitted
to his intimate confidence. having him for many
in his hours OF relaxation, having known every
member OF his family In q constant Interchange OF
pleasant hospitalitios it does not lie III our hearts ~
cody take his could easily have done IL
we were In the position OF mere outside spectators.
Our grief and sympathy get the better Of us aud our
thug this unrestrained outpOuring OF feo
Dgs. Within day or two, when We nave recovered our
conposure, shall recur TO this melancholy subject
and try do justice 10 a great reputation achieved In
our own loved profession.
HE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT.