Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-10
Cal Hahn Former.


TIE death. at his residence in Philadel-
phis, at three o'clock yesterday morning,
of Col. John Weiss Forney, one of the
Oldest and most prominently known OF
American politicians and journalists.
Colonel Forney was born st Lancaster,
Penn, on the 9Oth of September, 1877.
When at the age Of sixteen years, he en-
tered the office of the Lancaster Journal
as an apprentice, and there he acquired
the art of printing. Four years later he
began his journalistic career as editor
and joint proprietor Of the Lancaster
Iate7igenoer. which paper he afterwards,
in 1910, united with the Journal In
1915 he removed to Philadelphia, where
he became editor of the PsRTasyEOanian,
one of the staunchest Democratic
journals of that day. aud his services to
the Democratic party in that position
led to his election, in 1851, as Clerk of the
United States Senate, TO which Office he
was reelected in 1853. His connection
with the PenHSylUaniaR ceased during
this period. and he became editor OF the
Jai0n, then the Democratic organ at
Washington, but this position he also re-
signed in 1856, and, returning to Penn
sylvania. was chosen Chairman of the
Democratic State Committee, and in
January of the following year became
the Democratic candidate for the United
States Senate, but he was defeated by
Simon Cameron.
In August, 1857, Colonel Forney began
in Philadelphia the publication of the
Press, which he started as an independ-
ent Democratic paper, but while edit
ing that journal, however, he changed
his political base. He had advocated
President Buchanan's election, but when
the Lecompton constitution of Kansas
engaged public attention, he became
bitter opponent of the administration,
and this finally led TO his abandonment
of the Democratic faith and espousing
the cause of the Republicans. He served
his new party as ably as he had done the
old-so ably, indeed, that he was, in 1859,
elected Clerk of the lower house of the
Thirty sixth Congress by Republican aid.
During the war he was an earnest sup
porter Of the Federal Government, snd
continued to affiliate with the Radical
party for many years after the con-
flict had ceased. In 1851 he established
a Republican paper in Washington
called the Chronicle, which he published
in addition to his PHILADELPHIA paper,
the Press, and from 1851 to 1868 he was
Secretary of the United States Senate.
In 1867 he published his Letters of
Europe" series of sketches Of travel
which he had contributed to the Press
while abroad, and in 1878. he also pub
lished his Anecdotes of Public Men,"
a collection Of papers published origi-
naIly in both his papers, the Chronicle
and the Press.
Although Colonel Forney had been a
prominent and active member of the Re
publican party during the war and after
wards when that party was conspicuous
more for its corruption than anything
else, still he could never forget the hon
est teachings of his early days when he
was jealous Democrat. So, naturally,
l.. ot Iorr4b banar,o liou,,ctad NTH
his party, and in the campaign
of last year gave a hearty and
earnest support to General Hancock.
The cause of this gentleman he
advocated with great ability in Pro
grsss, paper he established in Philadel-
phia upon his return from Europe few
years ago. The defeat Of the Democracy
and its gallant champion was sore dis
appointment to Col. Forney, and he has
been unceasing since in his denuncistions
of the modes adopted by the Republicans
to secure that result How able and IN
answerable his denunciations were may
be gathered from the following para
graph, which appeared in answer to a
correspondent in the last number of
Progress, and which will, at this time, be
read with peculiar interest:
twenty years of power, Of plumber and
abundant opportunities; twenty years OF civil
war, Democratic mistake and Republican mon
es twenty years of possession Of all the sources
o: national administration; twenty years Of
/ TIE active and uDceasing. organizing efforts OF
at least a million Of ofdce-holders and their
/ dependents have left whaty-the harvest Of an
eiection procured BY the open and unblushing
| purchase of the sovereign State OF Indiana.
/ This spoliation does not depend upon Demo-
/ cratic evidence; it is based first upon Repub-
| lican brutal boast, and afterwards upon q
universal Republican confession. Even as
L write the architects Of that dark and damna-
BILE fraud are in conflict whether it is now their
duty to hang Guiteau for the murder of Gar
/ feld. or 70 punish Dorsey for the defeat of
| Hancock. Who doubts that the unexpected
i Democratic victory in Maine in September
| would have proved a nati3naI Democrauc vac
/ confidential cOnfreTes had not rushed with
| their money bags and their volumes OF uncut
/ greenbacks into the State Of Indiana to swing
/ the majority against the Democratic candidate
/ for President? speak not Of the transaction
| Of 1850 read from the open book OF yester-
/ days unf0Fgotten history. 1t is of such mate
4 can literature is composed and the Republican
| organization perfected. Here Is fraud almost
as naked ana as patent as murder in broad
| day, and with this fact in mind my correspond
ent talks of his hostility TO sectional hate as he
welcomes the rebel repndiator Malone as the
| last Republican re enforcement Hatred OF the
South Is the last refuge Of the Republican
party. and now to that hatred they superadd
/ Reputation. So branded they prepare for
the future as the future prepares for them"
1t will be seen from this extract that to
the last Col. Forney welded powerful
and trenchant pen. and Notwithstanding
his political vacillations and apparentlack
of steady principles, it cannot be denied
that with his death there has passed
away one of the foremost writers of the
country, and one who, during his life, did
as much as any other individual to give
tone and dignity to American journal.
ism. His decesse will create gap in
journalistic ranks which it will be hard
to I'LL.