The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-19
HORACE GREELEY.
Interesting Reminiscences-Mr. Lanman's
Tribute to His Memory.


permission.]
To use the language of Wordsworth in re-
gard to another, the soul of Horace Greeley
twas like a star, and dwelt apart" but his
star passed into cloud and the temporary
eclipse saddened the entire nation which his
life had honored 1 first became acquainted
with him when he was publishing the New
Yorker, and before he had started the Trib-
une, for both of which journals l wrote
some of my first newspaper paragraphs.
used to meet him at the house of my kins-
man, Park Benjamin, and the impress
sions that l then received of his high
character and rare benevolence, from personal
observation, steadily followed me through
life down to the time of mis- lamented death.
never agreed with him in his religious views
and all his various schemes of reform and
benevolence nor could l always agree with
him in politics; but, as man of mind and of
the strictest honor, he commanded my adj
miration, and 1 loved him as a friend.
His first letter to me was written in 1916
and the last in 1872; and it was in the former
year that he recommended me in a most fiat
tering manner for the Guardianship OF the
Mercantile library in New York. In 1863
after my friend Emerson Etheridge had writ
ten a political letter, which attracted much
attention. Mr.. Greeley reviewed it in severe
terms, and was induced to defend the mo-
tives of my friend, if not his argument To
that letter he sent me the following reply,
which shows with what fearlessness and
earnestness he was always ready to battle for
what he considered right;
OFFICE OF THE TRIBUNE. !
NEW YORK, Oct 2, 1853
My Dear sir-I have received yours of yester-
day. II Mr.. Etherldge had been nullifier, or
even pro-slavery fanatic his letter to Mem
phis would have been explicable, If not excnsa-
ble but know HIM to have been nothing OF the
kind in other days 1 think quite earnestly
as he does that the President has treated Ten.
nessee badly, but 1t was by exempting her from
the operation OF his proclamation of freedom
Had he not done this, she would ere this have
been free, therefore loyal and tranquil State,
on the high road to peace and prosperity. But
Emerson Etheridge did not as5all him for what
he had done i'll, but for what he had done we'll
In 1861 I insisted that Mr.. Etheridge should
be made CLERK of the House of Representatives.
When l did so his name had not been suggested
and 1 do not believe he had himself thought of
the office. knew he was not Republican; but
Isupposed he had eyes. His blow at the Pres-
dent and his policy in the Memphis letter was
unfairly deat-it was parricdal stroke in The
back, and 1t cannot be forgiven. 1t proves him
false-hearted and ungratefu, and the Brecku-
ridge Democrats with Andy johnson have per-
oeved the truth that henceforth the Union and
slavery cannot co-exst 1t was too late for
such letter to have proceeded from an ntei-
gent oonviction-its spirit was bad and its terms
insulting. Yours, HORACE GREELEY.
On two occasions I took the liberty of
consulting Mr.. Greeley in regard to my Die
tionary of Congress, and the two following
letters were the result
NEW YORK, December IS, 1865.
Friend LaEman--The publication OF a "Dic-
tionary of Congress-" extended and corrected
from year TO year, so as to keep 1t fresh and
authentic, is a wise and profitable enterprise,
whereby the author ought TO make ii good living.
You can make one by 1t, If you will. But see
no more reason for making this a job than for
doing the like with Burkes Debrett's Peer
age. II You will first cut loose from Congress,
and make it work for the people, giving the
election returns, with the rules and Parlia-
mentary Companion, L shall be glad to commend
1t, and feel sure that you will do well by it. 1
do not see how any book that Congress patron
ICES can De good for anything, since il cannot
Yours, HORACE GREELEY.
NEW YORK, May IL, 1868.
Dear SRI learn with pleasure that you are
about to revise your Dictionary OF Congress-"
enlarge its scope. and separate it altogether
from any connection with or hope of o1licia, pat
ronage. beg you to speak without reserve, and
with entire candOr of every person who shall be
deemed worth speaking of at all. work
posed of solid geographic facts, shOrn alike of
praise and blame but Independently accurate
In all points, is needed and Will be readily APP
preciated. Yours, HORACE GREELEY.
In friendly letter which | addressed to
Mr.. Greeley about the time of his nomination
for the presidency, l alluded to the old times
in New York-about ne-third of century
before-when we first became cquainted;
and i'll view of his position and popularity l
made the remark that 1.-THE people knew an
honest man when they saw him." and this
was Mr.. Greeley's reply:
NEW YORK, June 81, 1872.
Friend Lanman-Thanks for yours of the 25th
inst. have all my life been doing what people
called vastly foolish, lInpolitic acts, and [ did
not dispnte their Judgment I only said thar
what did seemed TO me the right thing. If I
should die before election or be heated therein
please testify for me that do NOT regret having
braved public opinion when thought 1t wrong
and knew it to be merciless. Yours.
HORACE GREELEY.
A few weeks after Mr.. Greeley's nomina-
ton for the presidency, one of his political
supporters, who knew my friendship for him
personally. but who also knew that | was
nothing of politician, asked me to give him
batch of reasons why he should be elected
and this was my reply:
He is a man of thought. His instincts
and habits are those of a gentleman. He is
true patriot, and in his knowledge Of states
manShlp has no superior among living
Americans. He was not the creature of ac-
cident, but is a first-class specimen of a self
made man. He has always manifested a re-
gard for religion, but could never wear the
garb of righteousness for selfish purposes
He is lover of his fellow-men, and has done
quite as much as any other to elevate the
average standard of the American character
His reputation as an editor is wel-nigh I'M
equalled. He has schooled an entire genera
ton in the ways of political knowledge. He
is man of the rarest charity, both in his
heart and with his hand.
las politician his motives have never
been impeached. He has never been an Of
fice-seeker, but has habitually made war
upon demagogues. As husband and father
he is without reproach. As a friend he has
always been as true as steel. While WELD
ing power and possessing his honestly-ac-
qured wealth, he has never taken upon him
self the airs of an arstocrat. Elevated and
earnest in his aspirations, he has been fol-
lower OF truth, not only for its own sake,
but for the comfort and happiness of his fell
low-men His honor and sense of Justice
have always been without reproach His
labors as writer have given him q world
wide reputation.
GAS the head of a great establishment, he
has ALWAYS been considerate OF the feelings