The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-04-30

IHis Kind Praise and Searching Criti-
cism Of All Thas Went Into, His Pa

per.
lCharles T. Congdon, in New York Tribune.l
He was man for whom it was pleas
ure to work. You thought, ~ you
wrote, of how he would like this sentence
or that illustration, and you were sure
of kind, competent and n catholic
Judge. He did not always praise in
deed, he sometimes found great deal
of fault, but he did 80 upon principles
which il was impossible to dispute, with
an intelligence which commanded re-
spect, and according to universally vac
cepted canons. He had one great merit
as an editor-he comprehended precise
ly what a leading article should be. do
not mean to say that he had any peculiar
notions he preferred that writer
should he himself, say what he thought,
and say it in his own way. Ii he could
not do this after fashion commanding
readers and respect, Mr.. Greeley thought
that the man had mistaken his vocation,
and advised him to try farming or some
other more promising enterprise. An
editorial writer, dealing mainly with the
manager, had but little to do with Mr.
Greeley, unless that writer happened to
make u blunder. Then he heard from
the little inside room, out of which the
chief would issue III state OF wrath
worthy of the gods.
Thus it will be seen that, whoever
might be the managing editor of the
tribune, with whom we were mainly
brought in contact, it was Mr.. Greeley
who really governed and shaped the
sheet. There were considerable long
periods during which he did not write at
ALL Often he would be absent from the
office for several weeks. Then he would
come back and for little while fill the
whole editorial page, and again he would
disappear. But he was always the edi-
tor of his own newspaper, when he
pleased to be. If he found it taking "A
direction which he did not approve there
was trouble, and sometimes sore trouble,
the particulars of which do not concern
the public. More than once, especially
during the difficult days of the REBEL
ion, he brought the Tribune round with
a sharp turn. In the mere matter of
having his own way, there never was an
editor-in-chief more positive and self
asserting. Considering how he i'm
pressed his personality upon the news
paper, do not SO much wonder at the
notion of some of his most ancient read
ers, that all the articles which were par
ticularly brilliant must have been writ
ten by himself.
There was the peculiarly about Mr..
Greeley's intellectual constitution, that
whatever pleased him he never forgot.
had personal experience of this, which
l may venture to relate. L had written,
soon after / became attached to the
newspaper, light little article about the
penny songs which were then exposed
for sale upon the ratings of st. Paul's
Church, and in other like localities.
Twelve years afterward, though l had
quite forgotten the trihe, of which he did
not say a word to me when it was print
ed, L received note from him express
ing the wish that this poor old article
might be included in volume of my
contributions to the Tribune which
was then compiling. L blushed with
satisfaction mt his kindly suggestion,
and actually pulled down dusty old file
of the newspaper, that might read what
had given such man pleasure over
again. When the book was ready, he
volunteered to write for it an introduce
ton, in which he said that of my work
which, however undeserved, has been
consolation to me under many
circumstances of misunderstanding and
encouragement. Litera scripta man
ent What this consummate judge
of newspaper writing was pleased t.
print no consideration of modesty shall
prevent me from here reprinting. :" III
the protracted, arduous struggle" he
said, (which resulted in the overthrow
and extinction of American slavery
many were honorably conspicuous
some by eloquence, more by diligence
others by fearless, absorbing, single
eyed devotion to the great end but h,
who most skillfully, effectively, persist
emily welded the trepchant blade o
Satire, was the writer of the following
essays" L think that no man, review
ing his life, who Has received sucl
praise, from such source, would resis
the temptation to reproduce it, though
hope that L shall be believed when / sa,
that 1 do SO rather for tlte sake of illus
tration which it affords of Mr.. Greeley
kindness of heart than for any prompt
ing of personal vanity. Such kindi,
traits in the character of one SO widel,
beloved will he accepted as u fresh proc
of the generosity of his heart, if not o
the excellence of his critical Judgment