The Portland daily press., 1877-12-08
Samuel BowIes, Journalist.

Samuel Bowles is sinking fast, and the issue
IN which this article appears may announce
his death. In him departs the foremost
American journalist of our day, the man
who, since the death of Horace Greeley, has
been the most conspicuous representative of
the American press. His career, short even
as we measure time, has been brilliant almost
beyonS compare. Heperhaps more than any
other man save the founder of the Tribune,
during momentous periods of our national
existence, moulded the opinions of our North
ern people and shaped the course Of events.
The early years of his life as an editor were
given to the furtherance of that grand cause,
the obliteration of human slavery in the
American Republic, and in the providence of
God be was permitted to see its complete and
triumphant success. With the high hopes
and aspirations and noble audacity of youth
he went forth, like young :giant refreshed
with new wine, to the old conflict with evil;
and his was the happiness to see his good
fight fought out to victory. His struggles in
the cause Of liberty will not be forgotten,
and hearts long estranged will in this hour,
turn to him with all the old love and admira-
tion.
Of biographical details there are few. He
was journalist, and his history is to be
found in the files of the Republican. With
his journal he completely identified himself
Entering its office at eighteen his after years
were wholly given to its service, and he wore
his life out in making it what it is. Its motto
might well be the inscription written over
the grave Of the Licentiate in Gil Bias.
In all those qualities which 60 to make up
the journalist, Mr.. Bowles was exceptionally
strong. He had the newspaper sense in a
higher degree perhaps than any man now liv-
ing. Possessed of rapid judgment, keen
analytical faculty, and a biting wit, gifted
with admirable art in placing his views and
conclusions before the public, enjoying wide
acquaintance with public men and thor.
ough knowledge of our political history, he
was rarely equipped for his profession. Nor
was he less successful as manager than as ed
itor. His great executive power, wonderful
aptitude for details, instructive knowledge of
the tastes of the reading public, unwearied in
dustry and incessant activity, and soundness
in Judgment joined to boldness in venture
made of him a newspaper manager whose like
cannot be found to-day. The history of the
great journal whose reputation he has made,
affords the amplest evidences of his incom-
parable journalistic genius. He found it a
weekly paner in provincial city. He made
it Of national repute; made it a model paper
in its arrangement of matter, in the interest
and variety of its contents, and in the prompt
incisive manner in which it treated all topics
OF moment in politics, literature and art:
made it an organ of opinion aud vehicle of
news whose influence is as wide as the boun-
daries of the Republic. The Springfield Re.
publican is monument which the most am
bilious would not disdain.
Prom the first Mr.. Bowles took the role of
the critic and the censor, to which he was
peculiarly suited by the qualities of his
mind and temperament. Long indul-
gence in arraignment and condemna-
tion strengthened those qualities even
to over development and overshadowed
the kindlier impulses of his nature. He came
to take undue pride in the sharpness of his
pen and too often sacrificed justice that he
might say bitter or brilliant thing. That
which at first was but one of many methods
became the sole method. In his later years
he took the privilege of age, and sat in his
chimney corner and. .grumblsd at the deeds of
newer and younger men. Indeed his long
disease made him prematurely old, and the
infirmities. of age visited him before their
time. He became peevish and hypercritical
in his public utterances, dissatisfied with the
present and hopeless of the future, and his
great influence with those who had long
revered and trusted him led many astray into
alien paths and after strange gods. Those
very qualities of mind which made him so
able a critic of public men and public affairs
so sharp in rebuke of evil men and
bad measures were too often perverted
into weapons of strength for the wrong
cause. This much, in justice to the living,
must be said of the dead. But this can
be as truly said: No motives of unholy profit
or weak expediency governed his actions.
It was the victorious and not the retreating
banner he was readest to abandon. Strange
irony Of fate that he who so loved minorties
should at last himself have gone over to the
majority.