New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-09
unnAcE GREELEY,S LLNCOLM


been brought to light for many DAY IS Horace
Greelev's estimate of Lincoln printed IN inc
current number of "The Century" In toA-
note the explanation is made that the manu-
scrint WAS decphered with appalling difficulty
owing b frequent and mnutely written inter-
tnootons and general eligibility. II the man
rscrint obstinately guarded the great Editor
secret thoughts the printed page reveals them
,,;t, = fash Of intelligence and lucidity that u
r,ir,v oIectric ANY one who reads the hiSt
sentence will he magnetized by its power and
,r;II not only 90 on to the end without pausing,
hut will then begin the article a secohd time
and finish it with conviction that Mr. OreeIey
v,os unrivaIled as q writer of pure and undehleo
Enolisb WHY this critical estimate OF LincolnS
character and public services has never before
boon nubIished we do not know; but it Is fortu-
r,+o nerhans. that it has been reserved for the
deliberate Judgment OF a generation that hIio"S
In of his fame rs a writer Of philosophlc NINA
and complete intellectual equipment IMAM Oh
his reputation as a political leader an ecceh'Ilc
editor and unique figure in American history
Air GreeIey while he lived was always at work.
constantly writing and making public addresses,
and sharing his thoughts day by day with the
world So rich and varied was the literary
nroduct of his busy career that there was no
leisure allowed to his contemporaries 1or cfllca,
estimate and appreciation of the robust ana
luminous qualities of his style. 50 incomparaoie
IN ESSAY as this coming after long years oil
silence has the force of a revelation 1t shows
,,hot manner of writer he was during the long
noriod when the world was enriched with his
daily thought. It'll.
Notbinc is more characteristic in this article
cham the writer's comments upon the limited
,cbooling which Lincoln received for his Work
in ,fo. He does not sheer at higher educanon'
but he asserts that a majority OF the great men
Of +he country, beginning with Franklin had
little if ANYTHING more tran commoh-school
education. while many bad less. Washing
ron Jefferson and Madison had rather more
Clov and Jackson somewhat less; Van Bulen
nerhapS a little more; Lincoln decidedly less
How great was his consequent loss? raise
thn question let others decide it," This was
y question which he frequently raised during
his life. not 50 much from prejudice against
academic forms of education as from profound
faith in the capacity Of a man Of genuine power
for educating and fitting himself for the highest
civil trusts Henry Clay, the idol OF his early
career had the most mea2re advantages OF
schooling in boyhood, but there was nothing IN
his conversation and his speeches in high de-
bate which would have impressed the most
critical listener with n sense Of defects OF early
cdncation. In the same way, Mr.. Greeley as
serts that Lincoln if he had lived to old age
world have lost whatever of hesitation or raw
moss was once observable in his manner, and
have mingled with highly educated men "on
the same easy footing of equality with Henry
Clay in his later prime Of life"
II was with Mr.. Greeley as a literary worker
and master Of English style very much as he
saws il was with Mr.. Clay. He had less rather
than more Of common-school education. The
oenius of the man rose above the limitations
Of his early misfortmes and scared with serene
and constant poise in The highest realm of in
tellectual activity. Mr. Greeley in his prime
was like Henry Clay as he himself ldeaIlzed
MIN. His knowledge was different from that
Of other men educated in conventional way,
but it was comprehensive, thoroughly assimilated
and wonderfully minute; and whether IN con-
versation or in writing he was master OF Eng
fish prose. No man of his time, unless it was
Lincoln. could write such plain strong and
finished English as Horace Greeley. This
Century" article opens with one OF his tefSeSt
epigrams There have been ten thousand at
tempts at the life Of Abraham Lincoln, whereof
that of Wilkes Booth was perhaps the most
atrocious; yet it stands by no means alone
This keen thrust at contemporaneOns biography
is followed by twelve pages OF quaint meta
phOrs. fine analysis, animated "reminiscences,
luminous exposition of character and political
events wealth of literary alluSion and poetic
quotation. and sustained elevation of style. No
better example of Mr. Greeey's beat literary
work can be found than this strongly vitalized
and Characteristic estimate of Lincoln. At the
same time ii reveals the writer's intellectual
outfit as thoroughly well-read and sef-edu-
Gated man.
OF the substance Of this previously unpub-
Iished essay and of the justice OF its estimate
Of Lincoln we have not space in reserve to
sneak. 1t Is a severe test to subject an article
like this. written many years ago while the heat
and burden of the Civil War was still felt, to
generation of cooler and more mature judy
ment. What was lacking then-a sense OF
persrective-is now supplied and the great fig
rras of the Civil War, Lincoln soaring above
them all, are seen in their true relations. II
does not matter very much whether or not the
estimate be accepted as wholly accurate and
sympathetic. It is enough that it faithfully
ernbodies his ideas Of Lincoln. lie would not
say that the biographies and ideals of Lincoln
current when he wrote This estimate were not
better than his Lincoln. He would only say
that they were not his. As the tribute of one
home-spun man of incompatible genius to an
other Of like heroic mould, Horace Greeey's
Lincoln will live in literature.
MORE ARCTIC EXPLORATION.