San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-06-21

The fret aud only political office
Whitelaw Reid has ever held was
that of United States Minister to
France, q post which he filled with
signal ability and which he but q few
weeks ago resigned. 1t Is q singular
coincidence that Vice President Nor
ton, the candidate on the ticket with
President Harrison. had also but q
short time previous to his nomination
for the Vice. Presidency Quilted the
post of Minister to the French Repub.
lie.
Mr.. Reid's entire life previous to
his going abroad TO represent his
country has been devoted 20 actual
journalism. For twenty years he has
been the editor OF the Tribune, hav-
ing succeeded Horace Greeley
upon the iatter's death In 1872, and
prior to his assuming the editorial
writer. Mr.. Reid was born at Xenia
in October, 1887. His Father, Robert
: Charlton Reid, sad married Marian
>Whttelaw Reynolds, . descendant in
direct Hue from the small Clan Ron
Al9 Of Zoe Highlands OF Scotland.
His paternal grandfather, also Of
Scotch blood, emigrated to this coun.
try toward the close of the last cell
fury, and rs q of it's earliest pic.
neers, settled in Kentucky, but in
1900 he crossed the river and bargain
ed for land upon the present site of
Cincinnati, But he was . stern old
Convenanter and found his conscience
uneasy, owing to the condition of the
sale which required him to run q ferry
every day OF q week across ths Ohio
River. Sooner than violate the
Sabbath, he gave up his bargain for
property that, II held, would now be
worth millions of dollars to his de.
seendants, and removing to Greene
county he becams one of the earliest
settlers in the township of Xenia.
An uncle Augh Mcmillan, d. D., q
Scotch Conveuanter and conscientious
man, took the task upon himself for
fitting Whitelaw for college, DIR. Mo-
MILAN was a trustee for Miami Uni
versity aud principal of the old and
long noted Xenia Academy, which
was then reckoned by the officers of
Miami the best preparatory school 10
the State, Under his instruction his
nephew was able, at the age of Is
years, to enter Miami as q sophomore
with a Latinist rank equal to that of
was in 1853, and also in 1856 he was
aduated with the scientific honors
Q classical honors having by his
own request been yielded to q class
mate.
Mr.. Reid brought the Xenia News
and for ten years led the life of q
country editor. He Unidentified him.
self with the Republican party and
took the stump for Fremont in 1856.
In 1860 he advocated the nomination
of Mr.. Lincoln, the News being the
fret western newspaper outside of
Illinois to do so, and its influence
caused the election OF a Lincoln dele.
gate to the Republican Convention
from the Xenia district. The fellow
ing winter he represented the Cincin-
natl Times at Columbus as legislative
correspondent. He next connected
himself with the staff of the Cincin-
natl Gazette and the Cleveland Her.
aid, aud after ward became city editor
of the Gazette. At the outbreak of
the war he was sent to the front as
the war correspondent of the Gazette.
Mr.. Reid was assigned to duty as
volunteer aide-de-camp, with the
rank Uf captain. He wrote over the
signature OF Agate" After the West
Virginia campaign terminated in the
victory over Gsrnet's army and the
death Of General Garnet himself at
Carrick's Ford, on Cheat River, Mr..
Reid returned to the Gazette office.
aud tor a time wrote editorial leaders.
He was sent back to West Virginia,
aud given a position on the staff of
General Roseorsn' He served
through the second campaign that
{ animated with the battles of Carpi-
lex Ferry and Gauley Bridge. In
1S6l-'62 he went to Fort Donelson,
recorded the Tennessee campaign,
arrived at Pitts ourg Landing weeks
in advance of the battle fought there,
and, leaving a sick bed, he was the
only corresp 'ndent who witnessed
the fight from its beginning to Its
close.
In 1862 he bought an interest.in the
Gazette. He went to Washington as
correspondent of the paper. Here he
mel Horace Greeley, who appointed
him on the political staff of the Tri
bune. When Charles A. Dena left
the Tribune Mr.. Reid became it.
managing editor.
President Hayes and President
Garfield offered him the position Of
American Minister to Germany, bul
on both occasions he declined it. In
1878 the New York Legislature cleo
ted him for life a Regent Of the State
University.
Mr.. Reid's services as Minister {,
France are memorial from the fac
that he secured the repeal of tn,
French decree prohibiting the i'm
portation of American meats and ne