National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-11
The Nations Nilschlct.Mnkcr cr.

The Nations MisChict.Makcr.
Horace Greeley founded the 7riJ,mc,
and for many years conducted it as re-
spectacle newspaper After Freedoms
battle was fought and won the old gem
tlcman began to show signs of weariness
with well-doing. lie became irritable
and discontcnted. When the Tribune
and Times both drew out of their partner
ship with William NJ, Tweed in 1871 the
latter took to publishing pages of figures
from the comptroller's hooks, while the
former commenced singing the praises of
the Southern Democracy. Horace Greeley
went South and returned with the
epithct of carpet-baggcr in his mouth.
From that time he and the Tribune
were lost to the Republican party.
There was among the young men
Especially trained" 10y him one named
Whitelaw Reid. lie found him perchcd
under the caves of the House end of the
Capitol, variously employed as an assist
ant House Librarian, Treasury agent
(unlawfully drawing two salaries from the
Government), and correspondent for
newspaper or two. The Democratic party
nominated Mr.. Greeley for the Presidency
in 1872, and the Tribune became staunch
defender of the KuKlux Klans and the
White Liners of the South. The Ir'bUHe
was too virtuous for Republican company
then. In 1876 the TribtRe was tamely for
Hayes and Wheeler. In 1850 it was jul
bilantly for Garfield and sulkily for
Arthur. In the formation of
the Government under Garfield
Reid appears to have been the
familiar and evil genius of that unfor-
tunate man. He first made his appear
ance in an unauthorized use of General
Garfelds name in connection with the
New York senatorial election. He de-
clarcd that the President-elect had au-
thorized him to say that the new Ad-
ministration could not be used as n make
weight in that contest. This much was
true. But he went on to say that there
fore every man was free to fight Mr..
Conklng who was not interfering in the
contest. Reid, in other words, invited Il
bitter incional controversy on the ground
that the new President would be pleased
Will ll' lIllS WIS IlUltNlOuS anu ull-
friendly to General Garfield. 1t was
dragging him into a contest in which he
had especially desired to be neutral.
On the 4th of November General Gar
field said TO friend who was visiting
him at Mentor: zone of my main
troubles will be the New York SEN
"atorship, and you can help me
"very much in that. am going to keep
absolutely clear from that struggle, but
al shall not be credited with so doing.
"What want you to do is to have me
understood in that matter by your
i" friends He was addressing anavowcd
friend of Senator Conkling. :" want
"you to say that, whatevermay be claimed
"to the contrary, | am not interfering in
"that contest" When the Tribune
virtually claimed to speak for General
Garfield during the senatorial struggle,
and, after stating his neutrality, boldly
asserted that il meant a fight against
Mr.. Conkling, The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,
took issue with the statement, and,
in obedience TO the Generals request,
stated his position to be absolute neu-
trality. The contest of the Tribune for
Chauncey NJ. Depew was ridiculous one,
and TO hide their weakness its followers
voted for Mr.. Platt, one of the two friends
of Mr.. Conkling engaged in friendly strife
for the honor.
Now the Tribune charges that Mr.. Platt
bought its support and that of its follow
ers by pledges as follows:
Pledges were first cxacted that he should be no
party TO any attempt to prescribe the New York
delegates who voted against Grant at Chicago lie
resisted this at hrst far as Judge Robertson was
concerned and declared he should oppose the
Judges being nominated, but finally agreed II he
TTe nominated, "eyen for Cabinet Office" to
vote for him, But for that pledge, distinctly given
Mr., Plat would never have been Senator,
The day before, the Tribune had ad,
mitted as genuine q letter signed by lis
editor, Whitelaw Reid, last March, in
which Mr.. Platt was said to have prom.
ised 20 vote for Robertson's confirmation
as collector at New York. But when Mr.
Plat denounced this assertion as false in
the Hcroid, thee Tribune meekly concurs
and virtually says Yes, We lied. Mr.
Platt did not make any such promise as
Reid said he had in his dispatch TO be
shown TO thePresident last spring" il
Gays:
lie very probably never thought OF the collec
torhip. The mention for a Cabinet Office secmet
10 his Stawart eyes an absurdty-he believed IA,
could prevent it. No doubt he thought II was
pledge Eale enough to give, since he could neve
be called on to koepit,
"Never thought Of the collectorship =
And yet, in order to prevent the with
drawal of Robertson's name by President
Garfield Reid boldly declared then tha
Mr. Platt was pledged to vote for his con
frmation.
Reid is overwhelmed by his own lette
and by Mr., Platts response to it, ]
shows Reid in his true character-yiz
that of selfish, scheming fellow, ben
upon gratifying his malice, no matte
how much harm he did TO the President
And thus the Tribune editor falls int
the ditch. He may not be capable q