Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-24
ThurlOW Weed.

The death of Thnrlow Weed. which is
momentarily expected as we 90 to press, will
remove from among us an interesting and
unique figure. Half century ago he was
great power in politics He was one of the
most adroit party managers and one OF the
most effective party journalists ever produced
in a commonwealth which has cultivated the
art of political management and political
journalism more thoroughly than any other
State in the Union. Without ambition for
office, he gave all his shrewdness, his energy
and his pertinacity to the work of the caucus
and the campaign, loving the contest, and
content that others should collect the spoils.
He was the object of great deal of censure,
not all Of it deserved. The public is ready
to think the worst of politicians whose meth
DDS it does not understand and whose motives
are not transparently common. Mr.. Weed
had a strong natural taste for manipulating
men; and the crowd assured that he bought
them. But time did him justice; and in his
old age he obtained the honor which proba-
bly, he did not much care for in his prime.
He was the last of his school of editors and
politicians The Press cxerts influence now
in ways very different from those which
prevailed when he controlled The Al
bany Evening Journal, and when so much
of the work of the political convention
was done in the newspaper sanctum.
In general it may be said that the old
school editor tried to manage the poll
ticians, or was a managing politician him
self. and his successor finds his true function
in influencing the voters. This is principal
ly the result of the change in the general
character OF newspapers brought about by
the enormous increase in the circulation of
the metropolitan press. journalist who
speaks to 100000 readers every morning.
deals with affairs in larger way thin one
who addresses only 10000. But moreover.
the nature of political work has changed
since Mr.. Weed went into retirement. 1t
has become more vulgar The machine is
not an invention of our day, bat it has been
put to n score of new uses, and the new men
who run it belong to a much lower type of
intriguers and office brokers than the astute
and brilliant man. gers who measured wits
with the Albany Regency. We can estimate
the difference betwee, the two classes of men
by imagining how the present race Of politi-
clan, will be regarded by the next generation
if, like Mr.. Weed, they outlive their day.
Can anybody conceive of Mr.. John +. Smyth
or Mr.. Stephen b. French. at the age of
So. holding place in the public regard COM
parable to that enjoyed so long by the veteran
editor and politician?
In his lsst years the generosity of Mr..
Weeds nature, overlooked but never over
come in the excitement of political cOntro-
versies, was universally recognized. His
fellow citizens of all parties had a kindly
feeling for him. and even something more.
They applauded him wnen he appeared in
public they listened with interest To his rem
iniscsnses of the distinguished personages
with whom he had been concerned and the
historic scenes which he had witnessed; they
sought his opinions upon current affairs and
his Judgment of public characters. At his
freside, surrounded by his books, his man
uscripts and all the comforts of a happy
home, he loved to talk upon the concerns Of
the active world from whose noise he had re-
tired; whatever stirring event became the
topic of the day, one of the first impulses of
the entcrprising reporter was to find out what
Thurlow Weed had to say about 1t. Often
A., for instance, in matters of fnance-his
Judgment did not accord with the sober
thought of the country; but his conversation !;
like his frequent letters TO this journal on
miscellaneous affairs. was always shrewd and
suggestive, and the interviewer" never came
away from Mr.. Weeds study without notes
that were worth printing. But probably
nothing commended Ills differences more
strongly to the attention of the public than a
certain digni6ed and unconscious amiability
which colored them. The world loves q gen.
tie old man /; and it is always impressed when
one who has seen so much of the ugly side Of
life moves to his end serene and content with
mankind.-N Y. Tribune.