Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-22
THE GREELEY LETTERS.

The publication Of the private letters of
Horace Greeley TO the managing editor of
the Tribune, Dana, in 1S55-56, has awak-
ened much interest. At the time Mr..
Greeley was in Washington making
sight" for Banks for Speaker. The Tribune
had much to gain in his success, but it was
not unit in its policy. Mr.. Greeley at
his end of the line was constantly putting
up schemes that he believed would win,
and Mr.. Dana was as regularly upsetting
them by mismanagement at his end. The
correspondence grew out of this fact 1t
gives an insight into the inner life of that
wonderful man, Horace Greeley, and en-
ables US to form better estimate of his
character. At the same time ii shows to
the world how difficult it is to manage a
newspaper discreetly, and what are the
trials and fluctuations of a managing
editor, however conscientious he may be,
and however faithful to a defined line of
policy. The Nestor of the American
press" learned, when he struck the snags
of political diplomacy in Washington, how
difficult it is 10 keep q newspaper from
treading on the toes Of the very people it
ought to approach gingerly, when there is
a specific end to be accomplished. The
experience was therefore highly valuable
both to Greeley and Dana. and undoubt-
eddy made each better for his work in
the long run" Mr.. Greeley with his
keensightedness saw that it was essential
that he should control the expression of
the Tribune on all matters relating to his
mission in Washington. Mr.. Dana on his
part thought he saw the opportunity to
help the editor-in-chief in his mission by
hitting every man who opposed his
schemes. He was combatiye, Greeley was
discreet. But what it cost him is revealed
by this correspondence, now for the first
time made public. There was great party
confusion at the time, much distrust within
party lines, and bitter hatred outside of
them. The whole country was spon the
eve of an upheayal, and none foresaw that
tumult vas at hand more clearly than
Greeley.
In those days full twenty-four hours
were consumed in making the trip from
New York to Washington, all communica-
ton by mail was slow, and the Geographic
service at the best was poor. Consequently
the means Of keeping the two ends Of the
Tribune in harmony were not very efficient
Greeley insisted upon managing things to
suit his plans as they developed on the
field Of action Dana believed he knew
Just as well what the voice Of the Tribune
ought to be- At one time Greeley had a
stubborn old Congressman in the traces for
Banks; when the Tribune came to hand
with an article that upset everything, the
senior broke forth
If YOU were to live fifty years and do no'riYg
but good all the time, you could hsTdly atone
for the mischief you have done by that article
on Brenton. The stupid old Ounce had killed
himself, and had decently buried him,
whereas now the purifying carcass" was dug
up TO be glorided as saint and do infinite
damage.
The next time the Tribuue kicked over
the milk" Greeley wrote to Dana in this
bitter VEN:
Now write once more 20 entrest that may
be allowed to conduct the Tribune with refer
ence to the mile wide that stretches either way
from Pennsylvania avenue. II is but a small
space and you have all the world beside can
not stay here unless this request be complied
with.
He was left to do as he wished for few
days, but a new grievance brought from
Greeley this singing bit Of wit:
The internal picayune spirit in which it uhe
TTi5uae) is published has broken my heart
No Jew ever managed pawnbroker's I
shop in a baser, narrower, more short sighted /
spirit than the Tribune is managed The |
Tribune is doomed 10 be second-rate paper !
and / am tired
1t speaks well for Mr.. Dana that even at
this late day he consents to the publica-
ton Of these criticisms upon his manage
ment. But he knew, and none better, that |
Greeley had the heart of great Journal
lst, that he wanted to make the Tribune a |
monument to cleanliness and the truth. |
and he has therefore overlooked the testi-
ness of the splendid old man, and given to |
the world such inside lights as this to the
character of the master mind of the
Tribune
Dana: shall have TO quit here or die I'M
less you stop attacking people here without
consulting me. You have paragraph utterly
untrue) from Boston paper stating that PEN
nington was in Boston closeted with Governor
Gardner. which was interpreted here as an at
tack on'P. Then comes one from an Ohio pa |
per, CHASING Ball with Moore and Scott Harri-
son as opposing Banks, long after Bali had
come back TO Banks. And now comes an awful
attack on old Brenton who has been voting
steadily for Banks and the plurality rule for at