The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-26

SOcldred WlLu ulIu IN MS WOLh upou hp
Tribune that Greeley was a great political
writer rather than a great editor in the
modern significance Of that word His as
sociate upon the ticket, Gratz Brown, had
been an editor Of one Of the leading papers
OF Missouri, but he was also a lawyer
Carl Schurz, who presided at the Cincin-
natl convention which nominated Greeley
was Az editor, and outside Of his political
Offices never had any other business until
within tho past three years.
In 1884 the Republicans nominated for
the presidency a man who stepped from
the editorial chair to the whirl Of political
life, and who, when he retired in 1881 from
public life, took up the pen Of historian.
For ten years prior 20 his election 20 con-
gress Mr.. Blaine was an editor ia Maine,
and so slight a sum as five dollars week
perhaps caused bis attention TO be turned
10 personal politics. The proprietor Of the
Portland Advertiser once told the writer
that Mr. Blaine wanted his salary as assis-
tant editor Of that paper raised from TWEEN
ty-fye dollars 10 thirty dollars week,
with q contract for five years The pro
prietor felt that be could not afford TO pay
this sum, although he valued Mr. Blaines
services. Therefore Mr.. Blaine resigned,
resumed the management Of a weekly
paper in Augusta and entered politics.
Few men OF literary pretensions have
ever been nominated for the presidency
With the exception q military heroes
every president has been a lawyer Had
Greeley or Blaine been elected such choice
would have broken the precedent. Mr.
Lincoln did have some literary inclina-
lions, and one Of tho strange and little
known incidents OF his career is his at
tempt TO become a popular lecturer. After
his famous joint debate with Stephen a.
Douglas in 1888. Mr. Lincoln had an idea
that perhaps be had gained fame enough
10 enter the lecture field He therefore
wrote lecture upon n0npoliticd sub
iect. and secured two on three engagements
10 deliver it. In this capacity, however.
he was a failure, and he soon abandoned
the effort. Had he succeeded and found
that such vocation was pecuniarily profit
able, il is quite possible that our political
history might have been different.
The first purely literary man called 20
high appointiye Office was James *. Paul
ding, who was an old school journalist and
essAyst aud novelist lie served in pres
identtd etbiuet As secretary Of the navy
President Polk called George Bancroft 20
his cabinet and Bancroft's public repute
rested entirely upon his work as a histo-
rian. Washington Irving, who with Feni
more Cooper was the finest development
OF American literature OF his time, was
sent to represent this government as min
lister 10 Spain. but the tendency 70 bsstow
high political Office upon purely literary
men did not become marked until after
the war.
When John Lothrop Motley, the historian,
was appointed minister 10 the court OF -.
James. being promoted from a subordinate
diplomatic post. the nomination was re-
ceVed by the country with entire satisiac-
ton. and when afterward James Russell
Lowell. who was a professional hterateur
and poet, was sent as minister 10 Spain
and su bsequently promoted % the court OF
ST. james, the approval Of the country was
manifest, and II has been said that no more
brilliant representative ever served ia that
post, although Charles Francis Adams as
minister during the war displayed extraOr-
binary ability.
President Harrison exceeded any other
president in disposition 70 recognize the
journalistic profession An editor was his
secretary OF state, although, Of course, that
appointment was made by reason Of Mr..
Blaine's extraordinary political achieve
meuts But Mr. Whitelaw Reid, tho
editor OF The Tribune, was sent as minister
10 France; Mr. Charles Emory Smith, the
editor Of the Philadelphia Press, minister
10 Russia, and Mr.. Murat Haistead, the
editor OF the Cincinnati Gazette, nominated
as minister 10 Germany, although not con-
drmed
William d. Evarts said not long ago that
were he % begin his life over again to-day,
fortified with his experience, he would be
tempted "a become a journalist rather than
10 practice law IL seemed 10 him that the
opportunities, both political and personal,
are greater ia that field.
+. J. EDWARDS