The sun., 1884-02-17

epublic spirited rcformer. for which no hfnseif
in his own practice evnced a cynical indifrer-
ence. was about rs pertinent rs the chmse OF
base ingratitude" launched Mt Chicago By
Mr.. A. u. Dickinson at Mr.. Greeley who as a
matter OF fact had mover received anything
from his political copartners but lip recogni-
tion and supcrcilious rebufIs.
In 1854 Mr.. Weed deemed 1t inexpedient to
crafty Mr. Greeley's wish for tho Wing nom-
nation for Governor He even declined 10 hid.
assigning. OF COURSE. some Of the plausible rea-
sons Tor which an expert wiropuller Is never ut
q oss-his old and faithful friend In securing
tho nomination for the far humber post Of
Lieu and assisted at the stato
Convention In comforting tho lattor przs on
Mr.. oreeley's personal and political rival. the
editor Of the Nev York Tones. Mr. Greoley
would not hnye been man. he would havo
been cur had no forgotten oondoned Mr.
Woods share In this CALLING and grntuitouB of-
fence. Tho action. nevertheless. which no took
ut Chicago in 1860 was prompted not merely ly
personal vindictiyenoss. but by a sincere con-
viotion that Mr.. Seward wonld provo unequal
to the weight OF responsibility which. 1t could
already bo foreseen. would fall upon Ro-
publican President. No Intelligent man.
who is familiar with the history Of
tho negotiations between the Confederate
Commissioners and the Republican Cabinet
during the carly weeks OF Mr.. Lincoln's Ad-
ministration. and who carefully considers the
attitude OF tho Secretary Of State. will refuse
to concur with Mr.. Greeley in congrutulating
tho defenders OF the Union that Mr.. Seward
was not nominated at Chicago. 1t may be that
much precious time would have been enved by
choosing Mr.. Chase or some other candidate
more conspieuously and avowedly in sympathy
with the nnti-slavery movement than was Nr.
Lincoln; but there was danger that such a step
would result in the election OF Mr.. Douglas
There never was any doubt as to which Of the
two men. Lincoln and Seward. would be the
first to yield to tho vehement outcry OF anti
slavery sentiment. and to issue tho emancipa-
tion proclamation. by which uct alone the Fed
eral Government acquired n superior moral
status to the Confedorlcy before the bar Of
English and Continental opinion.
1t is wo believe. undisputcd that to Mr..
Greeley belongs the credit Of defeating Gov
Seward at Chicago. He it was who pers uaded
the discordant elements Of opposition to drop
their personal preferences and unite upon u
candidate who would .oncilate instead OF
alarming the Democratic wing OF the Republ-
can examination. yet who could at the Same
time be trusted to carry out with the strong
hand the dominant purposes Of tho party that
elected him. Ho it was who. by throwing grave
doubt on the power of the New York candidate
to carry his own State foiled the plans of Mn.
Stewards friends for securing on the second or
third ballot the votes Of Indiana and Pennsyl-
| vania. In ascribing. therefore. to Horace
Greeley the ruin Of the hopes Of a lifetime Mr..
| Weed was entirely justified by the facts.
though. as 1t happened Mr.. Weeds hopes by
no means coincided with the interests OF the
country. During the remainder OF his life
he never missed the opportunity Of striking