Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-08-24
A SCRAP OF HISTORY.
Whitelaw Reid Beat Horace Gree
ley
Pc ttGrk Ia Chicago MuiL

.teiy planned campaign Of inyen-
suppression and SANDER for the
ose OF binding and misleading the
10. Chief among the Thousand ly-
meets and the one altogether de-
OF honor aud honesty is the New
Tribune, which is just now being
free 70 voters all along the Pacific
50 and throughout the West. IL is
three years since this harlot Of
u street boldly proclaimed that the
ional banks had so perfected their
lr plans and machinery that they
Id defy congress and annul the laws
The land. Ii any other limited class
men should make the bOaSt-Or al
1t, without protest, TO be made by
cir organ-they would be branded by
ne Tribune as anarchists Of the most
angeroUS type.
just now, when Republicans and
heir organs are trying to whitewaSh
dr. Reid with d view 20 catching
honest mems votes and hOOdwinking
the wagewOrker, it may be In order 10
recall little history. Not far from
quarter Of a century ago the New York
ITibuRe's editor and founder took
Whitelaw Reid into his office and his
heart, and became his helper and bene-
factor. Twenty years ago this sum
mer Horace Greeley was nominated by
the Republican liberals and endorsed
by the National Democratic convention
at Baltimore, for the Presidency.
Greeley was just twenty years ahead OF
his time, In the goodness or his own
simple, trusting and fOrgiying heart
- . 81 rF
and brotherhood was 40 hand.
But we all knew that he was mlStaN-
en-. Both sections were still nursing
the memories Of the war. While Gree
ley was absent, asking both sides 20
t'ioln hands over the bloody chaSm,
his OLD political friends were CEN
suring him and deserving his paper,
which he had trusted 20 the care ana
editorial control Of his confidential
friend, Weitelaw Reid. The latter,
when he saw that Tribune stock was
declining, sought out Jay Gould aud
borrowed from him-fOr consideration
that has since been made obviOuS-suth-
cient money to give h,m controlling in
terest in the plant.
In this way Mr.. Reid, "who was al
ways an honorable man. became edi-
tor and chief owner OF the newspaper
founded by Horace Greeley
Mr. Greeley returned home at the
close OF the campaign, wearied and dis
hearteued.
he supposed his interests safe ia the
hands Of his trusted friend. and without
stopping 90 examine into business mat
tiers, went directly TO the bedside Of his
invalid wife and watched her day snd
night-gOjn- without sleep for over
Week-Unti the end.
It was about this time that an editOri-
al appeared iu the Tribune reviewing
the campaign. To was written In Mr..
Greeiey's peculiar style, and reflected
severely upon old friends for whom
ne entertained none but the most kindly
feelings now that the battle was over
Gn1 lost.
Whitelaw Reid, who from long and
intimate association with Greeley could
c0u1eriei; his style % perfection, was
author Of the objectionable editorial.
BUT, greatly .o Mr.. Greelcy's grief and
lor,acato., lt was widely copied aud
d.tcj o. t.e defeated candidate for
-1as~-S~, The latter wrote a
.auar. saying DE knew nothing of
elur1ral tl.l be saw 10 in print, and
.at ue greatly regretted its appear
..ra.
Bio selt tho correction to the Office,
o-larlc its prompt publication. 1t
wa. le- published. and be sent another
message. which shared the fate OF the
FIST Bic jb,n tOtJerld down 90 the
Office aud up stairs, where be called the
foreman aud asked him 90 print the dis
c'a.utr .u the next issue.
The foreman answered; MIR. Gree
lev .t >t.e most painful, task OF my
whole life Co tell you that am instruct
cd by Mr. Reid, who has lately been
elected edit0r-in-chief OK the Tribune
Co take no copy from you hands.
This was the first intimatiOu that
Greeley had received Of Reds treason
and periiy. The poor Old man gaSped
for breath as the truth dawned upon
h.m, and exclaimed from tho depths OF
an already stricken and overourdened
heart, "WeIl, am of no more use IN the
Tribune office, and guess am OF no
more use anywhere.
-%a wonder that the next act in the
6rama took place in an insane hospital
and that few weeks later the curtains
lifted and revealed a new-msde grave.
Tbis is the true history Of the Tribune
tragedy.
Benedict Arnold Is detested to-day the
world over. But there is wide differ
erce between the treason Of Arnold and
that of the Hon. Whitelaw Reid.
The former betrayed his country
when smarting under a sense OF iujuS-
tice and when swayed by the passion Of
Jealousy.
The newspaper traitor deliberately
and coldlv plotted 90 ruin, aud humi,i-
ate. for the sake OF power and pelf, an
uDsuspectiBg friend VINO had been more
than father to his betrayer and de-
strOyer.
.ras5tude that can compare with
yitslaw Reid'S treason TO Horace
Greeley. Yet in the eyes Of Reds
WAL street supporters and friends this
crime Is looked upon as business, and
the chief actor is honored as a sue
cassful business and newspaper man.
Judas and Arnold have gone 20 their
ravyard. but If there is any sense OF
iBstice in the world 10 will yet overtake
M, Reid and cause him 20 ask the viii
lains OF Gethsemaue and OF West Point
TO swap places with him.
The New York Trib,tHe was the child
Of Horace Greeley. In IL, more than
anv other newspaper ever born into
ne world were interviewer and blended
tile brains and heart force, the con-
s&ience, the hopes, the aspirations and
vkrv life OF It's founder and creator.
rrfl 3 fr, a.