The morning call., 1892-09-01

SZo,U ,UOO a year. &
George William Curtis was born In Proyi-
dence, K. l.. February "a. 1924. The earlier
years % bis.life we're devoted 10 a cet,9bi
tion of study and farm labor. although he
put in a year as clerk in a mercantile house
in New York.
In 1912 lie and his elder brother joined the
community Of Brook Farm IN West Rox-
bury, Mass, bat only remained eighteen
months, when they went:to Concord, Mass
Life here was about the same as at the
community, so the brothers went TO work
tilling niece of land on their own account
1t was Improbable. so they separated after
six months.
In 1916 Mr. Curtis left this country and
lived abroad for four years. He resided for
a greater portion of the time in Italy and
Germany. but lie made extensive travels in
Egypt, Syria and other Oriental countries.
Soon after his returnto his native land in
1850 he.cOnnPcted himselt wi.h..the editorial
staff of the New York Tribune, and held
resnOnsi ble.nostiOn for some time. -:
From the first issue ofPutnain's Monthly
in 1852. until 1t passed out OF existence Mr.,
Curtis was one Of the editors. He stuck TO
the magazine through all the troubles:lt got
into. After ii passed intothe lands Of Dix.
Ed wards IL CO.. and when in the spring OF
1857, the firm was discovered to be insol-
vent he sank: his private fortune in the effort
to save its creditors from loss. :. It was a
long struggle. but he succeeded in 1873.
!: In 1853 be began in Harper's Magazine
his series of articles entitled the Editors
Easy Chair, and in 1857 became editor OF
Harper's Weekly as we'll as running a de-
partment in The Bazaar after it started.
His political career extended over period
of twenty-iour years. In 1860 and 1864 be
was delegate to the Republican national
conventions, and in the: latter year was an
unsuccessful candidate for Congress in. the
First New York District. He declined
I the Office Of Consul General to EYE pit.
offered him by President Lincoln in
1862. In 1867 he was elected "a
.delegate-a at large to the New York Consti-;
tutionaI Convention, in W hieh he y as chair
man of the COMMITTEES on education.
In 1863 lie declined the Republican nomi-.
nation for Secretary OF s. ate Of New TX.
In 1871 he was appointed by General Grant
to draw nD rules for the regulation OF the
| civil service. -: -
Mr. Curtis was delegate to the Repub-.
| lican convention of 1876, that nominated
President Hayes. but declined several offers
| made to him early in the administration TO
| accept foreign missions. -.
lie was.a delegate to the national conve
| ti0D in Chicago In $780, and was enc OF the
most vigorous opponents OF the nomination
! OF Grant. In 1884 he was again a delegate
/ at Chicago to The convention which NOM
mated Blaine. He was the only delegate In
| that body who had sat in the convention IN
1860 that nominated Abraham. Lincoln. r:
IL was during the session of the conven-
| tlon of 1860 that Curtis made one of the m most
| telling imprOmptu speeches OF his life.
| The veteran Abolitonist, Joshua X. Gid
| diDgs, had introduced a. resolution
which quoted from the Declaration of
| Independence and recognized the equality
| of the negro, but the convention had, to use
1 a vnlgarism, "sat down" on the old man,
| and lie in sorrow was about leaving the
building. The incident was noticed by sew
| eral Of the New York delegation, Curtis
| among the number. In an instant he
| sprang upon his chair. and gaining rec0gni-
/ tion from the presiding officer rolled out
! torrent OF ecquence that was heard in every
! part OF the great edifce.
! "When the Republican party was mol"
| he began, when the enemies OF slavery
were denounced as false To their country
! and its constitution; when the very name
Of being friend OF freedom was sufficient
| TO cast suspicion upon man--in those days,
| now happily gone forever, there were a few
bold and BILE spirits who were not ashamed
to show their detestation Of those laws
which made man free In one Siato and
slave in another; who declared that all men
were born free and equal without dls-
tnction of parentage or color. This little
| band labored aud suffered, but the seed
they sowed bore fruit, ana from the anti
slavery party of quarter Of century ago
| came this young giant-the Republican
| party of to-day. Ii seems to me that IL
| comes with Ill grace to attempt TO throttle
| tHe uttcTduce Oh OHb OI tneSc piOuccio Va
freedom. 1t would be nwise. unjust and
unmanly to attempt IL anywhere, but to do
| ii In these free prairies of the West Is a
crime. move you. Mr.. Chairman, that the
resolution proposed by my friend from
Ohio be adopted"
The convention went Wild. The question
was put and adopted without dissenting
| voice.
THAT speech cast halo Of glory around
the venerable head OF Joshua X. Giddings,
said delegate in speaking Of 1t afterward
ut made demigod Of him."
+ When Blaine was nominated by the con-
yention In 1884 Curtis rebelled, and in tht
campaign which followed he openly sup
ported Grover Cleveland. From that timt
on he was considered the leading spirit oi
the mugwumps,