Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-04-16
THE ELDER BENNETT.
Hon John Russell YounG's Recoliectio
Of tho Great Journalist.

Of tho GroAt Journalist.
81 first saw Mr.. Bennett in 1864. whom
I came to New York with message to
him from Mr.. Forney. Mr.. Forney had
some IDEAS about being a member Of
the Cabinet Of Mr.. Lincoln, and there
were good reasons why he expected
such recognition. / came to New York
at his request to see Mr.. Bennett
was introduced to him by Hon. John
B. Haskin, then member of Congress
from Westchoster County. l went To
Fort Washington one snowy night and
saw Mr.. Bennett for the first time.
From that began an acquaintance that
lasted until he died. He was then an
old man Of nearly seventy. with curl.
GUS humor. He talked until late in the
evening. He had an interesting Scotch
accent. He told mo about his early
days and his first editorial, on the battle
OF Waterloo, in II Scotch newspaper,
and remember no impressed Inc as a
combination Of Horace Walpole and
Cobbett. He was TO me always very
kind. He had the genius of Journal
ism, streaming humor, fine head,
uttarly indifferent topublic opinion and
political relationships, profuse in per-
sonal courtesy and with strong admi-
ration for both General Jackson and
General Grant.
II remember when Genera. Grant
came to New York in 1869 or 1870 he
said to me; 4 owe great deal to Mr..
Bennett. He has treated me with kind
ness from Fort Donelson down. l wish
/ could make some return; but he wants
no Office, takes no part In politics, asks
for no appointments. lespises patron
age, and ! can not do anything for him.
/ ought to do something to show my
appreciation Of ais profound and per-
feet support ] said to him:
"'You can only do one thing for Mr.,
Bennett, Mr.. President. Go and SEQ
him. ~.
Horace Porter, think It was, was
with the President, and he said: Yes,
MIR. President, | don't think you can
do anything better than to go and call
on him.
II gave him Mr.. Benefits address.
aud General Grant went with General
Porter and sent up his card. He
thanked Mr. Bennett for his uniform
and strenuous supp rt as General and
President, and said he knew he could
not return Mr.. Bennett any Office or
dignity or courtesy that would be ac-
ceptable 10 him, so he had simply come
To say to him that he was not unmind.
ful Of the support he had always re-
ceived from the Herald. saw Mr..
Bennett that evening and he referred
to the visit. They had talked q good
deal about Jackson's administra-
ton. Mr.. Bennett said to me
that he had told General Grant that no
man had had such an influence in the
country since Jackson's time, and Gen.
eral Grant would have his perfect and
assured confidence as President. Cen
er,I Grant was aftcrward extremely So
licitous to give Mr.. Bennett some indi-
cations Of the appreciation he felt
But that was out Of the question. Mr..
Bennett would accept nothing from
General Grant except the assurance Of
his personal friendship and regard, and
so il continued to the end Of his life. :"
"What do you think of the elder Mr..
Bennett as n journalist"
81 think, taking the whole history Of
journalism into consideration, Mr.. Ben.
nett was Its most original, daring and
audaoious example. His independence,
his courage, his honor, his knowledge
OF the world, were remarkable. He
brought into journalism the principles
he had learned as q boy from Cobbett
lie tried to control events. He made
the paper he founded the embodiment
Of what . journal should he.'-CAicagp
Times.