Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-05
WINNING AN ALLY.
Il ARe'hiniscence of the Early Days of til,
RebettiOa-THurIOsc Weeds Influence arifL
Bennett.

Il AhentntScence Of the Early Days of the
RebelliOn-IAMrIOsc Weeds Influence arifh
Bennett.
The following remarkable anecdote of
Thurlow Weed and James Gordon Bennett
appeared in the Albany Evening Journ a. i:
Just before hostilities began (of the war of
tho rebellion) one of the duties entrusted
to him was to secure the influence of the
New York Herald on the side of the ad-
ministration. The sympathies of that pa
per were with the South, and it's opposi-
ton to Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Seward en-
couraged rebellion and strengthened the
rebel cause. Fernando Wood, then mayor
Of New York, entertained kindred senti-
ments. With its large circulation in
Europe, the Herald was creating danger
GUS public opinion abroad, and it was felt
that Mr.. Weed was the only man who could
bring about change in its policy. The
subject was brought before cabinet meet.
ing, as our representatives in England
France, Belgium, and elsewhere had i'm
pressed the government with the necessity
of action. It was agreed that Mr.. Weed
should be asked to visit Mr.. Bennett. Mr.
Seward stated to the meeting that Mr.
Weeds relations with Mr.. Bennett were
such as to insure the failure of the object
contemplated; but Mr.. Weed was sum-
moned to Washington by telegraph, and
told that his experience in telling cats
pointed him out as the man to accomplish
this special task. Lincoln insisted that he
should make the trial and Weed returned
by the next train to New York with that
object. His acquaintance with Bennett
commenced in 1927, when the latter was q
Washington reporter. Weed was deeply in
tsrested in the success of Henry Clay whom
Bennett repeatedly attacked and derided,
so that the two journalists had been in di-
rect antagonism. One charge made by
Bennett had so incensed Mr.. Weed that
not a word had passed between the two
for more than thirty years, although they
lived much together ut tho Astor house, in
New York, and wore brought otherwise in
contact. On reaching the city, Weed sent
word that he wished to see Mr.. Bennett,
aud was invited to dinuer that afternoon
at Washington Heights, where Bennett
lived. The two editors sat long time at
the table, and the question was ovidently
put before the Herald proprietor in an en-
tirely new light. In parting, Mr.. Weed
was cordially invited to visit his host fre-
qusntly at his office and residence. Moth
ing was then said in regard to
the future course Of the Herald,
bat that journal came promptly to
the support Of the government and re-
mained earnest and outspoken against the
rebellion. It was charged that Mr.. Ben
nett had been intimidated and that he had
been bought up by the administration; but
both Of these accusations were wholly un-
bounded. Mr.. Weed appealed solely to
Mr.. Bennett's judgment and to his sense
of duty as an influential journalist to the
government and to the Union. A direct
and simple appeal, as Mr.. Weed so well
knew how to mako it, was successful, and
the social relations thus re-established be-
tween these two journalists continued
throughout the remainder of Mr.. Benefits
lifes Mr.. Lincoln frequently expressed to
Mr.. Weed his desire to acknowledge in
some way his sense of obligation to BEN
nett, and some two years afterward, when
tho French mission was open, the presi
dent authorized Mr.. Wakeman, then sur
veyor of the port, to offer it to MIR. Ben
nett, which offer, however, was declined.