The Portland daily press., 1881-02-01
TUESDAY MORNING, FEB. 1.
Bennett and Greeley.
Cincinnati Gazette. !


The former was an Ann street man for six
years, and what years of toll they were! He
met Greeley almost daily, but there was no
congenality, and it is doubtful if they ever
held half hours conversation. Bennett
however, saw the power of the laborious prin-
ter and editor, who was plodding with such de-
termination, and he offered him partnership
in the Herald. The idea was impracticable,
since each man was a leader, and you might
as well have united Ben Franklin and Vol.
taire in grand journalistic effort. Both Ben
nett and Greeley were ambitious, but one
looked on the journal merely as the road to
wealth and distinction, while the other viewed
wealth merely as a means of making the jour
nal. The perfect newspaper was Greeley's
lifelong ideal. Bennett cared nothing for the
contents of his paper so long as it sold. Gree
ley, on the other hand, did not expect wide
popularity, nor did he care for its loss so long
as the paper was maintained in its noble des-
tiny. He did not, as he said, "exrect to please
everyone, but he intended to make paper in
which everybody (of decent character) might
find something of interest and nothing offen-
sive to morals" For this reason be employed
writers of classical attainments, in which ne
was utterly deficient Bennett, on the other
hand, though fine Latin and Greek scholar,
was Indifferent to literary style. He wanted
corps of free lancers. to make forays on socie-
", and required spice rather than elegance.
Greeley essayed the discussion of social topics
with view of improving the race, while Ben
nett only laughed at the reformer and his
ethics. To quote his words, "Greeley was a
galvanized SQUASH" This was the end of all
controversy. When these remarkable men
left Ann street, one went to the east and the
other to the west They were only separated
a few hundred feet, and for nearly thirty
years each labored in producing great jour
nal-but what gulf between them!
Greeley and Bennett when they were Ann
street editors, were both of slender build. AS
they approached from different directions,
they seldom met. Greeley generally entered
Ann street from Broadway, while Benefits
route was from Nassau street corner. Gree
ley though slightly stopping, looked people
squarely in the face, while Bennett, who was
four inches taller, stood bolt upright, but
fixed his eyes downward as though to conceal
his repulsive features. Greeley would have
felt as awkward with the latter as he would
with sword. Bennett dressed neatly; Gree
ley was a sloven. Bennett wrote a legble
hand Che was once a teacher), while Greeley's
calgraphy was abominable. AS an editor
Benefits forte was to dictate while Greeley's
was to write. The Heralds best articles were
done by the staff, while the Tribune's thunder
bolts bore the stamp of its chief. Both of these
men were abstemious, and although Bennett
wat often the apologist for vice, his habits
were very correct. His influence, however,
was always for sale. Each of these eccentric
editors, though i'll adapted for courtship, be-
came married men. Few had less time for
love matters or less grace to win woman's
love than Bennett, but he announced with
pride his approaching wedding. The birth of
le Jjeune editeur was announced with still great
er pride; and what a career that young editor
has endured! Both Greeley and Bennett were
borne to Greenwood eight years ago.