The morning call., 1893-07-21
A LANDMARK GONE.

The announcement that the Mobile
Register has passed into the hands oil
receiver will be received with general re-
gret. The Reqister was one of the few
connecting links between the old South
and the new South. Its career constituted
a page, and not the least interesting page,
of American history. 1t had played con-
spicuous part in the most momentous era
in the evolution of the nation. 1t had In
fashion contributed to make history.
John Forsyth. who was its proprietor
and editor in its palmy days, was the son
of John Forsyth, who in his day was Sen
ator of the United States, Governor OF
Georgia, envoy to Spain and Secretary OF
State under Jackson and Van Buren. He
was high-toned. loyal citizen. who took
strong ground against nulltication. and
probably would have been a Union
man in 1860 had ne lived till then.
John Forsyth. the son, became ed-
tor of the Register when Mobile
was small cotton port with
population of about $1,000. 1t was partly
due to his exertious that it doubled in
population by the time of the war. He
was one of the first to realize its geographic
cal advantages. and he labored faithfully
and successfully to turn them to good
account. He took an active part in poll
tics, and was sent as envoy to Mexico by
President Pierce; but he was one of those
who foresaw the coming struggle, and he
felt that be could be Of more use at home,
and he only retained the appointment
few weeks.
At the height OF the contest in Kansas,
he spent considerable time 10 New York
conferring with the leaders of the Damoc-
racy. He was clear-headed enough to dis
Germ that in endeavoring to plant slavery
IN Kansas the South had undertaken an
impossible task; but be concealed from no
one his fears that the war in Kansas must
be the prelude to another war in which
the slavery question would be fought
out 10 finish. In 1860, after the
disruption of the Charleston convention,
and when Mr.. Lincoln's election was
foregone conclusion, he conducted a CORE
spondence with two New Yorkers-the
late August Belmont and the late S. l.. Nj.
Barlow-in which he reviewed the politi-
cal situation and the prospects with re-
markable lucidity and foresight. That
correspondence has never seen the light.
1t is in the possession OF Mr.. Barlow's
executors. who would probably be willing
TO intrust 1t to responsible publisher; its
publication would shed o new light on a
period OF history which cannot be too
brightly illumined. Mr.. Forsyth was, at
heart, Union man, but resolved to 90
with his section. Belmont and Barlow
were pro-siavery Democrats. but they we'll
knew that if the sword was drawn they,
too, must stand by the State Of which they
were citizens.
When the Southern Confederacy was
formed Forsyth was sent with Martin
Crawford 10 Washington to endeavor 10
arrange a peaceful separation of the
States. Mr.. Seward, of course, could not
see him. and he returned to Alabama
broken hearted and despairing. He was
too far-seeing a man to hope for Southern
success in the war. but during the terrible
four years he gave the Government at
Richmond such assistance as he could with
his counsels and his pen. At the close of
the war he was broken in spirit and in
health; he had lost control of his news
paper; he had lost his money. He fingered
fourteen years, supporting himself by lit
erary work, and died in 1879.
The NJ obile Register was one of the few
really high-class newspapers at the South
and was marked contrast to such sheets
as the Richmond Examiner or the Charles
ton Mercury and Inquirer 1t took rank
with the Louisville Courier. 1t never
pandered to the passions of the Sou uthern
rabble and was never afraid to denounce
that which, John Forsyth believed to be
wrong. 1t was largely the work of un-
principled journals that quarter of a
million secessionists succeeded in swaying
100000 of SOutherners into an insane en-
terprise which their judgment condemne ed.
1t is not too much to say that if all or a
majority of the Southern papers had been
conducted by men of honesty and courage
like John Forsyth the jeff Davis party
would never have succeeded in dragoon-
ing the Southerners into secession.