Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-11-09
GREELEY AND RAYMOND.
A Philosophical Dissertation on the Mer-
its of the Two Great Editors


There is not paper in all this country that
possesses the individuality that characterized
the New York Tribune when Horace Greeley
was its editor or The Times when edited by
Henry ]. Raymond.-Kansas Commoner.
The day of great newspapers, edited by great
sditors, such as Horace Greeley and Henry j.
Raymond, has passed daway.-Chicago Tribune.
We had the pleasure of knowing both
Greeley and Raymond. We were more
intimate with the first named of these
contemporary editors than with the
other. They were able, sincere, ener-
getic, public spirited Americans. Neither
of them was a cherub. Mr.. Greeley,
good man! said damn" more than once
as we regret to remember, and when he
called Raymond 1.-The little villain" that
cool headed man retorted in language
which many people have forgotten. The
two did not get along very well together
when one was editor of The Tribune and
the other among his assistants, nor after
ward when they were editors of rival
papers, though both were Of the same
party. Neither of them was an ideal
editor" or q very deep thinker, or first
class statesman or notable scholar.
Greeley was stronger and more
stirring writer than Raymond, but Ray
mond was far more skillful editor than
Greeley. Greeley was more fervent in
mind than Raymond; Raymond was
more judicious and nimble than Greeley.
Raymond, when he was member of the
legislature, and the speaker of the as
sembly, and the lieutenant governor of
the state, and a member of congress, and
q delegate to state or national conven-
tions, gave evidence that he was greatly
more ingenious in politics than Greeley,
who, indeed, during the brief period of
his service in congress, did not win dis
tinction. Raymond always kept up a
close intimacy with those astute political
managers, Thurlow Weed and William
Il. Seward. while Greeley was unable to
stay long in the political firm of Sew
ard, Weed & Greeley" in which, as he
said when he left the concern, he had
been Junior partner"
Greeley was more of a philosopher than
Raymond, who. in turn, was more of
man of affairs than Greeley. Greeley
was often compared with Benjamin
Franklin, though he did not possess
Franklin's scientific quality; Raymond
might be compared, in many respects,
with Franklin Pierce, though he was not
of Pierce's politics Greeley had certain
eccentricities of manner and action;
Raymond was always regarded as very
level headed man. Both of them be-
longed to the antislavery school in poll
tics; but Greeley's fervor in the cause
far surpassed Raymond's. Greeley had
in his earlier years been champion of
social reforms" which were bitterly
denounced by Raymond, who, however.
in the latter years of his life, began to
look with favor upon certain theories Of
socialism. Greeley was negligent in his
dress; Raymond was natty. Both Gree
ley and Raymond were founders of New
York daily papers which still exist, but
neither Of which is now characterized by
the traits of its founder.
We agree with The Kansas Commoner
that none of the New York papers now
possesses the individuality of Greeley's
4IAOQaC VI 4sdy luOnu . 4lulCc, duo AO
one of them can possess it, for both of
these memorable individuals long ago
departed for ''the undiscovered country
from whose bourn no traveller returns"
after it had been their lot ''to grunt and
sweat under weary life," but that is
not reason why we should despair of
the American press. We may yet have
editors not unworthy to be compared
with the greatest and best we have ever
had.
A true man was Horace Greeley,
strong, earnest a.d god -konored be
his memoryl An able man was Henry
Jarvis Raymond-clear headed, quick
witted, reasonable, temperate, genial
and highly accolnplished-let mis- name
shine in the editorial galaxy!-New York
Sun