New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-19
MR. GREELEY'S LETTERS.

THE TRIBUNE is indebted to the graceful
courtesy of Mr.. Charles A. Dana for the prlV-
iIege of printing to-day, simultaneously with
"The Sum- a series Of Mr.. Grceley's letters
which are of exceptional interest and value
1t is not often that one newspaper is ready 10
share with another matter so good as this, ana
the warmest thanks Of our readers are due 70
Mr.. Dana. These letters will be READ Win
ayidity by the whole TRIBUNE constituency
which chershes the memory Of its founder
They were addressed TO a trusted fnend ana
associate, Mr.. Dana being at that time the Man-
aging Editor, and in Mr.. GreeleNs absence
in charge Of the paper. Many OF them were Writ
ten from Washington during the excitement OF
the famous Banks contest over tho SpeaKeiShip
in tho winter of 1856, and are picturesque
reAcx of the successive stages OF that bitter
fight Those that follow relate to the Kansas
controversy and other pressing questions Mr.
Greeley having stationed himself that winter
in Washington as an observer. W hch ne "rooo
these letters it was doubtless without thought
that they would ever find their way into print
lie poured out his heart OIL paper without re-
serve Yet there is not a word IN them Whlch
friend would want to alter. They show the
writer, as he waS-always in hot earnest san
guine and impulSive, sometimes mistaken. but
manfuy ready at all times to acknowledge in
Justice, always courageous and eternally honest
They are lightened, too, by humor to which tho
serious nature Of most Of Mr.. Greeley's pubic
writings gave too little play. Some OF his COM
nents on the vicSsitudes Of newspaper man
agement are irreSstibly comiCal.
The Banks contest over the Speakership last
ed nine weeks. The slave power was never
more determined, nor more truculent. When
Mr.. Greeley, in one Of these letters. tells MI
Dana that he will stand his chances TO DO
horsewhipped or pistolod" provided he is not
knocked down by THE TRIBUNE" he was nos
using a figure Of speech. 1t was at time when
the brutal spirit Of slavery was showing itself at
its worst IL was only few weeks later that
Preston Brooks made his cowardY and murder
GUS assault on Charles Sumner the penalty for
which as administered by Washington court,
was a $500 fine. When Mr.. Greeley wrote this
letter however. he knew already what It WIS
10 suffer under bludgcOn 10 the hands OF u
Southern bully. few days previous Albert
Rust. Of Arkansas, revenged himself for SONS
of his structures by beating him with heavy
cane Mr.. Greeley has given full account Of
the episode in his Recollectons." but the only
illusions Of any length 10 II In this correspond
ence are a Characteristic protest against slight
injustice to Rust and request that the paper
should pass him by In silence. Mr.. Greeley had
already believed himself for a time 10 he in
danger Of q similar attack ut the hands Of Judge
| Shankland. The letter regarding this, January
II, 1856, was written only week before the
| assault by Rust, and Is one OF the most enter
tanning in the series. In another place he al
| ludeS to threats against him in tn" bar rooms 10y
rufians whom the South sent to Congress. Tho
contemptu0Is indifference with which he re
garded these menaces was indicative Of the man
! II was not strange that his writings angemd
these gentry. Mr. Greeley called a spade 0
spade. and did il consccntiuuSly and there arr
many amusing examples In these letters that he
did not abandon the habit in his private corle-
| spOndence.
The publication Of these letters NAV serve {
useful purpose, related to present discussion
The picture they give Of the brutal intolerance
| Of the dominant party at that epoch, often mani
testing itself in physical violence, even in the
halls Of Congress or within the shadow If The
Capitol, may remind some Of our new school %
pessimsts what political manners were in thit
country a generation ago.