St. Paul daily globe., 1892-10-07
REIYS CIVIL RECORD.
WhitelaW Reid Wrote Col
umns Of Bitterness Di-
reeted at Grant.
He Said Flatly That "Gen-
Grant Is Not a Fit Person
to Be President"
He Pursued Logan With Ma
lignaney and Twitted Him
of Rude Speech.
His Treatment Of Public Men
and Labor Unions Always
Contemplate.

The Republican candidate for vice
president owes all his political proml-
hence to his connection with the New
York Tribune. This is admitted, says
the New York World. Whitelaw Reid
the diplomat would never have existed
but for Whitelaw Reid the editor.
WhitelaW Reid the candidate is the
natural outgrowth of Whitelaw Reid,
chief of staff of the senior Republican
organ. Mr.. Reid's history as the 1rib-
une's editor, therefore, is the history of
his public life. 1t began on May Is, 1872,
when Horace Greeley laid down the
reins of control in the following card,
printed at the head of the Tribune's
editorial columns:
The Tribune has ceased to be party
organ, but the unexpected nomination OF It's
editor at Cincinnati seems to Involve 1t in a
new embarrassment. All must be aware that
the position of Journalist, who is at the
same time a candidate. is at best lrksome and
difiicult-thai he is fettered in action and re
strained in criticism by the knowledge that
whatever he may say or do IS closely scanned
by thousands eager TO find in it what may be
so interpreted as to annoy or perpleX those
who are supporting him as candidate, ana
TO whom his shackied condition will not per
init him to he seryiceable The undersigned.
therefore, Withdrews absolutely from the
conduct of the Tribune. and will henceforth,
until further notice, exercise no control or
supervision over its columns
May Is, 1872. HORACE GREELEY.
WhitelaW Reid from that day to this
has been in control of the Tribune'S
editorial columns. The day after
Horace Greeley Was Nominated
for president by the Liberal Republican
convention at Cincinnati the sturdy old
Journalist wrote in his newspaper this
modest statement:
We do not feel at liberty to print the per-
son0l telegrams received last evening from
widely separated points, indicating hearty
acquiescence in and support of the nomina-
tions made yesterday at Cincinnati, but the
senders will accept our thanks
This was printed on May q, 1872. Nine
days later the Tribune editOrially said:
A single illustration is sometimes more ex-
pressiye than realms of abstract exposition.
To people who do not seem to Understand
the difference between newspaper and an
organ we would say that Ne Times on Satur-
day contained six columns Of abuse of Mr..
Greeley and very little news. The Tribune
OF that date contained interesting and valua-
Bile information from every quarter of the
Globe and not one disrespectful or unkind
word of Gen. Grant
Horace Greeley was still the editor.
Gen. Grant was the Republican presi-
dent OF the United States and candi-
date for denomination.
The Tribune had said that it was not
an organ. On the day that Horace
Greeley's resignation from the editorial
control was announced the newspaper
reiterated its declaration in these
words:
The Tribune is not, and will never
more be, Il party organ"
The editorial utterances of the Trlb-
une from that day on were therefore the
expressions Of
VThiteIayv Reid.s Convictions
and ideas. Two weeks after he had been
in the editorial chair, Mr.. Reid began that
bitter series of invectives against Gen.
Grant, which the veterans of the war
and the veterans of the Republican
party have never forgotten.
Strangely enough there was before
congress at that time bill which was