New-York tribune., 1873-02-10


love which, in this retcent world. feels itself to
be something akin to weakness and often feigns its
opposite in order to mask its presence He did not
see nor do the most so lowered see that it equally
belongs to the strength Of strength.
have had many differences of opinion with Mr..
Greeley but conscientiOusly declare that there
was none of them which did not finally draw me the
closer to him. little more than year ago ne
Published an article which 1 thought unjust to q
Government official who is an intimate personal
friend of NINE wrote to him at once, obectlng TO
his views, and claiming at least, suspension OF
Judgment. He replied, giving bis reasons Tor the
unfTiendly criticism yet. as thought according TOO
little weight TO my contrary representations
wrote again and more earnestly than before-so
earnestly indeed, that after the letter was dls-
patched felt that he might have reason to feel Of
Tended at some of the expressions it contained But
when met him, he stretched out his hand, with
that smile of ineifable sweetness which can
ever forget upon whom it fell. said Are YOU still
angry with me2" patiently heard my explauaton,and
assured me that, so soon it should be confirmed
by circumstances, full reparation would be made.
great many instances might be collected, to
illustrate Mr.. Greeley's aptness at repartee. heard
one example, which for sharpness and point is equal
TO anything reported of Douglass JerrOld. There
used TO be a paper in New York called The Erening
Mirror, edited by certain Hiram Fuller, afterward
blatant but not dangerous Secessionist in London
He imagined his little sheet to be the most important
journal in the city, and was in the habit of asking
his acquantances: Have you read The Mirror to-
dayY" At an editorial dinner be addressed this
question to Mr. Greeley in my presence. The latter
with an anindescribable drawl almost whine, replied
"Why, no! Inever buy Tho Mirror; I'm afraid Of
exbausting the edition"
We, who know best-perhaps who only know
how lofty consistent and utterly unsel6sh were Mr..
Greeleys aspirations with regard TO THE fGRIBUNE,
know also from innumerable incidents of oar long
intercourse with him, how many sound, noble, and
steadfast traits of his character have escaped the
public observation. 1t is. perhaps, question of
taste how much of this may now be related; yet it
seems to me that since Death by paralyzing slander
and fasehOOd has set bis life in clearer proportions
before the world the rubbish of early estimates and
later misconceptions might also with prOpriety, be
cleared away. There are many, in addition to his
associates in THE TRIBUNE-especially many noble,
earnest-mnded women, whose purer impulses few
men were better qualified to honor than he-whose
"reminiscences of his ways and words would add to
the fidelity of his historical portrait.
Let me say, once for all-and am almost ashamed
to mention a subject SO tTivial-that, whatever
might have been his careessness in regard TO certain
conventiOnalites of society. Horace Greeley was by
nature gentleman He lacked the peculiar talent
for tying cravat elegantly: he sometimes drew up
his trowsers to prevent them from being covered
with mud: he preferred a soft felt hat to the hdeOus
fashionable stove-pipe but, when ne entered an
assembly of ladies and gentlemen, the best, the
most intelligent, the most refined came to him by
natural attraction. Never, in all his life, was he
guilty of an act 50 bOorish and vulgar as that of
those who misrepresented his dress and manners,
during the recent campaign.
In his last letter to me. written on the 18th of
August, 1872. he says: Il feel sure that while my
election would pacify the country as it should be
paciied my nomination and canvass, even though
unsuccessful, tends to the same end"
Herein he expressed the simple basis of his ambi-
ton. Those who accuse him of having bailed JEFF
Davis solely with view to this later candidacy,
have had their perceptions confused by the study
of the typical American politician, that they are
quite incapable of cOmprehendng an action inspired
by humane and Christian motives. l confess, view
ing the campaign at this distance; separated from
the temporary eXcitements to which we must charl-
tably allow their full influence, nothing IN my own
experience of our politics has so shocked me as the
swift fOrgetfuness of all MI Greeleys former ser
vices the infamous attempts to dete his past aspira
tons the constituencies efforts To lnisrepresent MN
to the American people, which have characterized
his political opponents. The silence OF slander IN
the presence of death not enough to atone for such
injuries. If people appreciate Horace GTeeleyS
character, honor his memory, are grateful for his
honest services to them, they can only prove
ii by learning to combat opinions without dragging
those who hold them through the mire of vulgar
aspersion. Honor to the dead is not equivalent to
jlstice 10 the living. If Horace Greeley yearned,
with all the force of his nature, for any one thlng III
was for the simplest recognition OF his honest AIMS
He never mistoOk the popular curiosity for fame; he
never craved that fame which Is burden to ITS pos
SCISSOR: but during forty tireless seepess years OF
labor his proud sensitive soul sought everywhere for
thesigns that his work understood, though
ask betTaVl0g
ifmy proposition for collection of personal remi
niscences from those who knew him best should not
seem appropriate, allow me, at least, TO add my
slight testimony to the virtues, the strength and
the consistency of character of our Tevered Friend
/ have given only few incidents out of the memo
RES of many years, and have no memories TO con-
fict with the impression of his sweet and noble hui
manitv which have here endeavored to reproduce.
C,otba GerIndnU Dec. 90 1872. Is. T..
"CHILDREN's AID" AND Mr.. GREELEY's CHILD