The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-04
1WURLOWWEED'S STORY.

lowing interview with Thurlo ~ Weed
the octogcnarian, 80 well known TO,
half century as Journalist and aboli.
zionist. lie says: Calling at his house
and being ushercd in | announced m
purpose and was invited to take a scat,
L congratulated him on being able to
walk about alone at cighty-two years,
and Inc smiled and said he should hayo
to give it up some time, he supposed,
but ho wanted to keep on his feet as
long as possible. eff it wasn't for nv
eyes," he continued; "a cataract some
years ago so impaired my sight that
now | sec little. lean just sec a large,
dark body in the chair whcrc you sit,
but have no idea of your features.
:; After alluding to Ills diet and general
health, tho conversation driftcd to-
wards his lifelong profession ofjourn-
aliSnl.
"1ou and Mr.. Greeley pulled togcth-
or for good many years." suggest
cd.
eyes," he said earnestly. "Wc
were the best Of friends for fourteen or
fifteen years. How well remember
when first met him, should think it
was In 1889, perhaps. lie had been
printing the Nc0 Yorker for year or
two, and | had read it with great in
tcrcst. 1t was bright, aggressive and
able, and strong tariff paper. We
III Albany wanted n campaign paper.
and | came down to SEQ ifI couldn't
get this NeW Yorker man to run it.. |
found the office and went in and in
quircd for the editor, Of Il tall, vcrtluut
looking fellow, who was setting tvDc
ut case. q am the editor,' he said.
was a little surprised, but introduce
cd myself and told him wanted to
speak with him about State politics.
Tic wore no coat, and his shirt sleeves
were rolled up, and | we'll remember
now he leaned one elbow on the case,
hall turned around and said, 'AIl right
go ahead l told him | would like
TO see him alone; when he laid down
ms composing stick and we went
around and sat Oh some boxes while |
revealed my plan. The upshot of it
was that we hired him to go to Albany
two days in every week to edit the new
oeVefS0ntun rs n campaign paper,
while he continued to rum his .Nev
Yorker. lie was one Of tho most
faithful, honest, Industrious mon |
ever met in my life. We became very
much attach hcd to each other. lie al
ways stayed at my house when he
came TO Albany, every week through
all that year or moro. I respected and
esteemed him so highly that my regard
grew into real affection for him.
We continued warm and confidential
friends for many years."
The old gentleman paused here, then
changed the subject to tell me about
some tortv-ycar-old political carca-
tures that hung on tho wall, but after
awhile brought him back, how so
strong friendship came to terminate.
,"Wcll," he resumed, "Grcclcy, like
all OF us, was composite Of various
qualities, and he had his weaknesses.
nc possessed political ambition, and it
ruined him. None Of his friends sus-
pcctcd him of it at tho timc. IIe con-
ccalcd it wonderfully, or else it had
not then developed. l was drawn so
strongly to him because thought he
was like myself, only great deal bet
ter. never had any ambition to hold
Office. had ambition to be innucn-
tial, and to help the State to improve
tho quality of its public servants, but
not to hold Office myself.
"GREELET WAS A'pOwERFUL MAN.
One of the most talented men this
country ever produced: he was also
one OF the purcst. His extraordinary
ability. purity and industry made him
lnNinclDle against every foe but ambi-
tlon. We have often talked Of Office
holding and warned each other against
II. But just before the State COnvcn-
tion of 1853 he came to ALBANY and
said TO nc: Weed, I'd like to bc Gov
| crnor.' / told him I was sorry, for I
doubted if he could be nominated.
lie said, You don't think the Wing
party can afford to ignore the temper
ancc question this year, do youp |
said no, thought we would have to
nominate some temperance man.
Then, why not mop hc asked.
Because You will be thought zoo
ultra, answered. you have beaten
the bush and Myron Clark will catch
the hare lilo looked disappointed
but he thought lie could be nominated.
"ln few days, when 1t was pretty
certain that Clark would get the place,
nc came again and said: weed, I'd
like to be Lieutenant Governor !
told him that I didn't believe he could
get that, either. It would be overload
ing the tickct-too much temperance.
Besides, told him that Raymond
would get the place. That was tho
last feather that broke the camers. II
was terrible blow to him. TO be
beaten by Raymond, whom he had
nourished and warmed into life and
taught the business of newspaper max
ing-hc couldn't stand that. He was
greatly gricvcd. And he laid it to me
-wrongfully. He hardly ever spoke
to mo after that. We wcro strangers
Tor years. Then when was sick In
'59, Greeley came to sec me, and wo
resumed somewhat OUR former rc]a-
tions. In his last sickness I called TO
sec him, but I was some time in finding
him, and when at last asscrtaincd
where he was they refused mo admis-
sion. was sorry. ! wanted to see
him once more very much. lIe was
one OF the purcst, most generous and
kindcst men l had over mot"