Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-01-16
GREELEY AMI BROWN.
The Only Meeting Between tho
Two Men Who Constituted the
Liberal Ticket in 1879.

OHNSAoI oAh As
Brown met but once They did not
know each other when they were nomi-
natod and their only chat or confer
ence was at tho house of DIR. Steele, in
Bond street, where MIR. Brown was q
guest after his return from New Haven,
where he had gono, / believe, to at
tend the Yale commencement exer-
cises. Maj. James Haggerty, who haA
since made such n successful canvass
as an independent Tammany candi-
date tor reelection in the Assembly in
which he was u member for tho past
three years, was then u staunch Re-
publican. He hold a position in the
Custom house, secured through the in
iluence of Mr.. Greeley, of whom he
was a great admirer and whose per-
sonal friendship no enjoyed. He de-
tormined to follow him in his change
OF politics and resign his position in
order to take the stump in advocacy of
the Liberal ticket. Maj Haggerty was
present ut the interview between the
two men and talked to me the other
day about the incidents of their meet.
ing. He said:
1t was or a Sunday afternoon, short
ly after the nominations were made.
that Mr.. Greeley sent for me- to meet
him at his hotel. He greeted me On my.
arrival with the remark: 'Mr. Brow
is in town, and it is time that I called
,Nno h;n, - No xuaot % thn hA,cn ~
DR.. Steele, on Bond street, where Mr..
Brown was a guest. After the intro
auctions were over, Mr.. Brown began,
with some testiness OF manner:
You were not in any great hurry to
call upon meP"
II didn't know whether you wers
quite ready to receive me-" was MIR
Greeley's reply; end after some furtt er
conversation in 8 rather jocose vein,
Mr.. Brown put the query abruptly,
but pleasantly: Greeley, how much
are you WORTH" We'll" said Mr..
Greeley, in his peculiar way, "if |
could sell all that l have of Tribune
stock and farm stock at a fair valua-
ton, | ought to realize at least $780,
COO"
Mr.. Brown seemed somewhat sur
prised at tho reply, and Mr.. Greeley
laughed heartily, and then asked: 'By
the way, Gratz, how much are you
worth? How much have YOU made
u of journalismP" Mr.. Browns face
assumed an expression Of seriousness,
which quickly changed to che of in
dignation as be replied:
Nothing"
''But, Graft" ~rejoined Mr.. Greeley,
''a,n't you pretty well tixedP"
YES, I'm pretty well fixed, and | can
tell YOU how | came 20 be so. l found
myself with u young wife when | was
sent dying out of the editorship OF tho
Missouri Democrat. You know, uor-
ace, how much ] did FOR tina paper. L
still felt myself d great man. although
| was kicked out of the editorshlp; bat.
somehow the faces OF the leading men
of st. LOais had taken on a new ex-
preston toward me. There were din
ners given TO which | was not invited,
not deemed important. had not no
ticed this at first, but the frequency Of
the neglect began TO impress me. !
was not received as promptly by the
magnates as when I was an editor.
Then | began to
FEEL II SQUEEZE OF POVERTY,
and l thought | would start u new
Journal. Or course | went to the men
| had helped to charters, to power and
position. They no longer addressed
me as My dear Brown 1t was My
dear follow l was no longer the
editor, but a beggar; but | felt that l
had just as much brains and heart rs
when | was the editor, ana when L had
the place of honor at dinners and was
the first Of speakers IN responses. Well,
Greeley, in the p%arlance Of the street.
l took 81 tumble to myself. | conclud-
ed TO 60 to Jefferson City, and instead
of getting a charter for somebody else
| resolved to get one for myself, and
l obtained one for a street railroad in
St. Louis and found slate on il. |
think l have reason 70 put myself
down as worth now, or in the
near future, $500, 600. But. Hor-
ace, do YOU remember the
old hymn, Human hearts and
looks deceive mep | would rather be
poor to tho extent of being breadless,I
than to realize, as have done. the my
trinity and treachery of man. Now,
young man Earning TO me], don't
want to make a bad impression on You,
but If you are in politics for o. living,
take my advice and give it up. Apply
the energies that | think, from your
eye, you are capable of, in selling
matches, even at retail, three boxes for
a penny, and | assure you il vii, bring
you peace and happiness"
The conversation then became more
general, and Mr.. Greedy referred to
certain disparaging statements against
MIR. Brown that had been going through
the papers. and MIR. Brown again tired
up. II would rot be Your MANAGING
editor" he said. ''for all tho world,
for | know that ! Should hato YOU.
While You arc "a kindly man with u lot
OF benevolence. know that You would
hurt my feelings twenty times q day.
No man OF real strong individuality
aad intellectual power could 10 YOUR
subordinate and not hurt YOU" Mr..
Greeley's face frightened, and he slow
~ replied; 1--WE thought Of that N.Y. Z
self You arc not al unkind man,'tS
returned Mr.. Brown, with less asperi-
ty, "but you have the at of offending"
As he arose to 90 MIR Greolv said. aT