The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-07

coalition ticket in 1872. In the campaign
he revealed extraordinary ability upon the
stump. He made series of speeches which
are oratorical gems, and although he lost
the presidency he gained great fame by
reason of the ability displayed in these adj
dresses, which are models of pure English
and of argumentative speech.
OF Mr.. Raymond Thuriow Weed used TO
say that he would have been great poll
tician had he not been an editor, and
would have been very great editor had
he not been politician. Mr.. Weed meant
that Raymond's political inclinations and
his editorial zeal were about equally great,
thus preventing him from concentrating his
mind upon gaining the highest success IN
either one of these careers. At such times
as Mr. RAYMOND turned his back upon poll
tics and seemed disposed to use to the ut
most his talents for the benefit of his
newspaper, his great gifts as journalist
were made evident. On the other hand,
when he seemed TO be absorbed by political
zeal his successes in that direction were
great. To him much of the work of organ
izing the new Republican party was COM
mitted. He was the central figure OF its
first convention in 1856. He wrote its
platform, SO that the declaration of that
party of its principles and purposes as they
stand Of record was formulated by Mr..
Raymond.
He afterward served in congress and his
peculiar political ability was then demon
strated. His friends have always felt that
he made one error as politician. and
that was when he conceived and consum-
mated the "Arm-in-arm" convention,
which was futile and as it now seems,
ridiculous attempt TO organize national
party in sympathy with the public policy
Of Andrew Jackson while president.
What Mr.. Raymond might have done
- tx.tty liam, I'D Nc M f
been cut off really before he reached his
prime has always been matter of inter
esting conjecture with prominent men IN
New York who knew him well. Some Of
these men think that he would have been
found in the van of the newer develop
ments OF journalism which were beginning
10 be felt about the time of his death.
Others are of the opinion that as he grew
older he would have been tempted TO
abandon active journalistic life and TO
have made great personal career IN poll
tics. But those who knew Mr.. Ray
mond best believed that he could
not have changed his nature so as
10 concentrate his talent for any long con-
tinucd period in any Of these directions.
He would to the end of his days have been
for time politician and then again for
another time an editor.
The Brooks brothers were conspicuous
politician editors for more than forty
years. They came from little town In
Maine, became the owners of the New
York Express and were personally of
greater influence with their party than
their newspaper was. James was the most
dashing, brilliant. aggressive; Erastus had
more of the diplomatic quality. James
served for many years in congress, and
was at last compelled 10 bow his head In
shame to receive the censure OF the
speaker. This dIshonor was the sad cli-
e III ah ftan hnav hril mt
and successful, and James Brooks did not
long survive it. Erastus Brooks was some
times member of congress and sometimes
member of the state Senate. He lived to
enjoy a serene old age, and long enough
TO see the newspaper property which he
had created become the possession of one
of the most romantic characters of Ameri-
can commercial life. Cyrus w Field.
William Cullen Bryant although more
famous as poet than as an editor. yet for
many years was one of the lighting politi-
cal editors of this country. He sought no
Office for himself, nor was he journalist
in the modern meaning of the term, but
power, and his editorship of the Evening
Post lasted for longer period than did
the connection of any other OF the famous
editors with the newspapers which they
controlled.
James Gordon Bennett, ST., was not
political editor IN the sense that his ASSOC
ciates were. He not only never sought an
Office, but declined every one of any propo-
sitions which were made to him to accept
Office. In that respect he resembled Thur
low Weed, who after serving two terms in
the New York legislature, decided never
again to accept either elective Or appoint
i've Office.
Thurlow Weed in many respects was the
greatest poiiticiaR-editor this country has
ever seen. He was not an editor in the
sense that 1t was his passion to collect
news Of public interest from every quarter
of the globe, but he was an editor who
used his paper. the Albany Journal, for the
purpose Of aiding his party and his own
political schemes.
Weed began as politician. He had
learned the printers trade, and 1t was
while he was journeyman printer in
Rochester that he was permitted to write
paragraphs on the weekly newspaper pub
lished there. He got into politics unex-
pectedly. The people of Rochester wanted
charter for a state bank. and they knew
it would require pretty shrewd man, and
one OF insinuating address, to secure this
charter from the legislature. Some one of
the citizens had the inspiration to suggest