The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-11-29

attaches of his household, Hon.
Thurlow Weed, the veteran journ-
alist and statesman. breathed his
last at S:55 this morning. His
daughter, Miss Harriet Weed. who
has devoted her life to her father,
was so overcome that she had TO be
supported nv two female attendants
The grief of the other children was
none the less poignant. Just before
passing away Mr.. Weed CROPPED with
his right hand around the bed, as
though he sought his children's
hands. His granddaughter took the
extended hand, felt II soft pressure.
and the next moment he was dead.
Thurlow Weed was born at Cairo,
Greene county, n. ", November 10,
1897. He learned printing in the
Office of Machy Croswell. at Cats
kill. IN the war of 1912 he served on
the Northern frontier as a private
and as quartermaster sergeant. AT.
ter becoming of age he established
the Agrqcuhuralist at Norwich, She
mango county, n. Y. and during the
next ten wears edited various journ-
ais, the last being the anti Masonic
Enquirer, published in Rochester.
During the anti Ma~onicexcitement
in New York IL 1S26-2l he identi-
fed himself W.T. the parry imposed
To the Nasous. aud was twice -les:t-
ed by it to the lower HOUSE ri the
State Legislature. His tact as a
party manager, and his services IN
1896 in securing the election OF De
Witt Clinton as Governor, suggested
him as a competent person 70 OPP
pose the Albany regency" who had
the general management OF the
Democratic party in New York. At
the expiration of hissecond term IN
the Legislature in 1890, he accord
inglv removed to Albany, and as
sumed the editorship of the Albany
Erening Journal, a newspaper esta6-
lished in the interest of the anti
Jackson party. From 1880 TO 1862
he was a political leader, first of the
Wing and afterward of the Repub-
lican party. He was prominent in
procuring the Presidential nomina-
tions OF Harrison. TAYLOR and Scott,
acting in each instance as an indie
pendent adviser of the respective
conventions. He warmly advocat-
ed the election of Fremont in 1886,
and of Lincolnin 1860, although his
influence had in each case been ex-
erted ia favor of the nomination OF
Mr.. Seward. In November, 1861,
he was sent to Europe by President
Lincoln in a semi diplomatic capac-
itv. He returned home in June,
1862, and shortly afterward with
drew from the editorship of the
Eseaiaq Journal. In 1865 he became
a resident of New York city, where
he edited for a time the Commercial
Advertiser. Since 1868 intirm health
has compelled him to Withdraw from
active labor. He published Let
tiers from Europe and the West In.
dies"
Mr.. Weed never wanted OF would
take an office. With his rare pow
ers of organization, intuition aud
rhetoric, he made frmer friends,
welded more power and could be
of far greater benefit to his party III
the editorial relation. The clicking
of type and the hammering of the
printing press was like delightful
music in his ears. He would rather
have sat in his sanctum, with the
traditional pastepot, the scissors, the
waste basket and pile Of exchanges
besides him, than ACCEPT any posi-
ton of trust or emolument lii the
gift of the nation. Three times in
the course of his busy life ne was
offered the mission to England, by
three different Presidents whom he
had helped toelevate to that station.
Had he wished to run for Vice Pres
ident, Governor, United States SEN
ator, lieutenant Governor, member
of Congress, State Senator, Mayor OF
Albany, ur lr>s distinguished places,
the opportunity lay at his hand Tor
years. But he was never lured from
the paper which he founded 10y as
pirations to shine on the stump, in
the gubernatorial station, as an ac-
credited minister, or in the halls of
Congress. He made and unmade a
vast throng of p~laceholders whose
names are forgotten. More than
any other man in the world. he as
serted by his example the power and
dignity of the newspaper press by
placing it above all official posi-
lions.
In January, 1863, Mr.. Weed dis
solved his connections with the Alb
any Journal, both as editor and pro.
prietor. In his valedictory, which
appeared in the issue of January
%, he stated the reason which in
duced him to take the step: Il diff
Ger widely with my party about the
best means OF crushing the rebel
lion" In 1868 Mr.. Weed proposed
methods by which he believed that
the war could be speedily ended.
These features were, first, pardon
and amnesty to the rebels; second
an armistice or cessation OF hostlll-
ties for ninety days; third. restora-
ton of all their rights and privi-
leges to those who accepted terms
within the ninety days, and fourth,
a partition of ali the territory fought
over, including farms, plantations,
villages and cities in equable por-
tons among the Union officers aud
soldiers who succeeded in conquer
ing it. This plan vas submitted by
Mr.. Weed to the President in No
vember. 1863. Mr.. Lincoln, in re-
ply, said that he was about To write
his annual message, and that he
hesitated whether to submit the plan
TO Congress or to wait for a victory
and then come out with an amnesty
proclamation. When the Presidents
message appeared it contained in
place of the plan the confiscation
proclamation, but Mr.. Weed always
contended that had his suggestions
been followed, the war would have
been considerably shortened.
Trying a boy.