Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-12

then there began such factional con-
troversy in the then formative stages OF
the republican party in this territory
as to lead to all sorts OF trouble.
1t was then that the late Mr.. Thurlow
Weed was called upon to suggest some
man to come to Omaha and edit the
Omaha Republican. Mr.. Weed sent
our valued friend, Colonel e. ID. Web
ster, who after many years OF absence;
known citizen of this city. He has
had large stock interests in Colorado
and Wyoming. Mr.. Webster bought
the paper IN 1859 and continued to edit
it until he sold it to Mr.. E. b. Taylor
and Mr.. Mcclure, two years later, in
1861, at the breaking out of the war.
want to speak of Mr.. Webster per-
sonally without going into the in
cidents of his Omaha life which
were sometimes exciting and
always interesting. Then, as now, he
was always one OF the most active and
ready men that ever controlled news
paper or undertook to organize party.
He was the real organizer, in fact, of
the republican party in this territory,
and took charge of it with high
hand. He would fight at the drop of
the hat, either through his columns or
otherwise, and the bitterness which he
brought upon himself from the two
factions into which he very soon divided
the republicans OF this city and terri
tory, [ will not attempt to describe or
characterize.
Mr.. Webster has had u career. With
the advent OF Mr.. Lincoln and MIR.
Seward and the administration of that
government, Colonel Webster was
called to Washington, and there be-
ltpi hnl Fn of
| Mr.. Lincoln the confidential secretary
| of Mr.. Seward. In that Office he was
| charged with great trusts and RESPONSE
| bilities, and acquitted himself with en-
! tire credit in service which enabled
| him, perhaps, to know more about the
| inside official .life of the great men OF
| that period than was known by almost
any other man in the country outside Of
| Hay and Nicolay.
Speaking of the duties with which
| he was charged in the critical period of
| the war, which caused the seizure by
| one of our naval vessels of Mason and
Slidell, Mr.. Webster was the man who
delivered in person the warrant from
Seward for their delivery out of Amer
lean custody, and they were allowed to
| go hence. 1t is II fact that, under con-
| ditiOns then existing, and the pOssibil-
| ity OF conflict with Great Britain, il
| 1T had been known that Mr.. Webster
had that order in his pocket when he
passed through New York, and he had
sold his state secret for price, he
| could have made half a dozen fortunes
for himself and friends on the money
markets.
Mr.. Webster as wriVer was ready
and forcible, and never spared an en-
emy or betrayed friend. He was ~
genial and kind and cordial on one side
OF his character as he was aggressive
severe and sometimes savage on ths
Other-all in an editorial way
His industry in attacking aud de
Tending against assaults through
the press led him into more or less o
personal conflict with his enemies
Some of these antagonisms were yer.
amusing, always ending in some adjust
mcnt that saved him and others from
serious violence.
Mr.. Webster is still among us and ont
of the best known men in our section
who recognizes everybody, and YER
properly, as his friend, among whom
wish always to be classed.
close what have to say 10 you abou
the Republican to-day by saying that
was first issued as u weekly, always u
TO 1862, when 1t assumed three editions
tri-weekly, and was made daily tw
years later, In 1864.