National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-05-17


\ few days ago VIC printed the declaration
in the libel suit which Mr.. Benjamin +.
Camp has brought against Mr.. Whitelaw
Reid, Of the New York Tribune. The ground
Of Mr.. Camps complaint, It will be recol-
lcctcd, was that Mr.. Reid in the columns Of
the Tribune had called Mr.. Camp "a chronic
dead head" and applied to him ospr Sian
derUus epithcts calculated TO injurc his good
name. lie charged that Mr.. Camp had been
using real or supposed connection with the
paper TO obtain favors from railroad COM
panics, theatre managers, hotel proprietors,
&C., &c; that he had been pursuing this
policy for years and years, and that the Trt-
bWle In sclf-defenco was compelled to warn
the public against him. Mr.. Camp, conscious
Of his own innocence and integrity, very
properly brought suit against Whltelaw
Reid, the responsible editor and publisher Of
the paper.
As the case is to bC tried in our courts at
the coming September term, 1t Il invested with
q sort Of local interest which will COM
mand the attention of our people. Let US sec
who the two contestants are. In the first
place, Mr.. Camp is, compared with Mr.. Reid,
an old man. For nearly thirty years he had
been one Of the most firm and unninchlng Of
Mr.. Grcclcy's friCnds-a stockhOlder In the
Tribune Assoclatlon-when Mr.. Reid could
not have obtained u reporters position on
the paper. In the carly days Of the war,
when the Tribune company was barely
able TO pay Its expenses, and was con
siderably embarrassed on account Of the
purchase Of Its real estate and machinery
Mr.. Camp, at the urgent solicitation OF Mr.
Greeley, invested his money in Its stocks and
helped the corporation at q most critical
period In It's history. Mr.. Reid at this time
was q correspondent OF the Cincinnati
GdHtte In this city, telegraphlng secret
information TO the Western whisky ring from
the profits Of which speculation ho was sub.
sequontly enabled to buy an interest In the
journal he represented. Mr.. Camp was
Loyalty helping to sustain the great organ Of
the Republican party. Mr.. Reid was using
tho confidence reposed in him by the leaders
Of the party for the most nefarious purposes.
This Is only ono point In the records Of the
two men.
The whirligig Of time sometimes bring'
about the most curious changes. Here, fol
instance, Is the journal that Mr.. Camp, In
the fullness of his generosity, patriotism and
intense admiration of Mr.. Greeley, saved In
the hour OF itS weakness and peril, now turn
Ing round, Its great editor and founder dead,
and in the pride OF its strength yilifying and
calumniatlng Its carly benefactor. While
Mr.. Greeley lived the Tribune never attacked
Mr.. Camp. II Mr.. Camp had been doing for
thirty years what Mr.. Reid has represented
II. ...Il A
certainly have denounced him. That Mr..
Greeley did not do 30 is presumptivo evidence
Of Mr. Camps innocence, In our opinion,
aud from a careful consideration Of the whole
case, we aro forced TO the conclusion that
this venerable old man, Mr.. Greeley's dear
and intimate personal friend, and the friend
Of his family, with whom he lived upon the
closest personal and social terms, has been
grossly slandered by Mr.. Reid. lie Is GER
taiUly entitled TO heavy damages.