Smyrna times., 1873-03-12
An Editorial Tribute to an Editor,

Col John w. FOrney concludes an attractive
series OF anecdotes Of public men (makiog in
all exactly hundred papers,, which have con-
tlnued Tor nearly two years in the columns of
the washington SundaY Chr0nicIe. with a
hearty and even enthusiastic tribute to his
friend and fellow editor in Philadelphia, Geo
w. Chllds OF the Ledgcr. A special signif-
cance Is gwen to his remarks concerning the
TACT that MIR. Chllds, in spite of his devoted
friendship to President Grant. has not failed
to tell HIM the truth without favor or hattery
by the recent conduct of the Leclqcr. which
although the most cautious aud conservative of
Journals, has been among the most vehement
IN Its denuncatlonS of the rottenness exposed
IN the Credit MOhllirr investigation CoIoDel
Forncy concludes as follows:
No charity appeals to Childs in vain; no
OBJECT OF PATRIOTISM no great enterprise no
sufferer from misfortune, whether the ex- (Ion-
tederate or the stricken foreigner He enioys
the confidence OF President Grant, and yet was
among the first to send d splendid subScrptiOn
to the monument to Greeley. He, more than
any other, pushed the subscription of over
100000 tor the family of the dead hero.
George u. Meade, and yet Alexander H.
stephens OF Georgia has no frmer friend His
list OF unpublished and unknown benevoences
would give the lie to the poor story that he
Graves nOtOrlety When | carried letters from
hlm to Europe in 1867, his name was talsman,
and 1t was pleasant to see how nOhlemen like
the Duke of Buckingham honored the indorse.
ment OF an American who thirty years ago
walked the streets of Philadelphia without a
friend or dollar. He made his money him
sell, not by speculation or office, and got none
By inheritance. He coins fortune like a magi-
can, and spends it like man of heart. He
likes society, and lives like a gentleman. He
IS as temperate as ever Horace Greeley was,
and yet he never denies his friends generous
glass OF wine. His habits are as simple as
Abraham Lincoln s. and yet his residenc is a
gem bright with exquisite decoration, and rich
IN every variety of art He gives Christmas
dinner to newsbOys and b0otblacks. and TO
travelling dukes and earls, with equal ease and
Familiarity. lie never seems to be al work,
goes everywhere sees everybody, lie, ps every
0ody, nnd yet hls great machine moves like
clock under his constant supervision
! In sketch like this | have no space to do
more than allude to the Ledger under the man
agement of Mr.. ChldS; to the pa lace, which
cost, with the ground, over $400.OOO, in which
he prints and publishes it, and TO his circulation.
running at times to $1,000 copies day. But
there is one aspect that must not be omitted as
| close these anecdotes. | mean the perfect
independence of the, paper in regard to loca
and general cOrruptions. 1t does not hesitate
1t strikes out bold and quick Its rhetoric is
not SO trenchant as that of Russell Jarvis
when he took 'the bull by the horns," 20 anc
25 years ago, and when he stirred the sensi
bllities of the medical students and the pro
Slavery mobs; but it is more effective, becaus,
more moderate George w. Chlds, an init
mate friend of President Grant does not tai
to tell him in his Public Ledger, as he does,
hope, in his private talk, that among thos,
who affect to support Grant in Philadelphi;
there are creatures who do not care three con
tncntal farthings for him, except as they cal
use him. 1t is something to feel that there i
at least one man in Philad>lp lpha who ha
money enough not to want any more and wht
can afford to tell Grant the truth without beinl
accused of longing for his favor.