The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-09-21
GREELEY AND THE FREEDMEN.
The Editor Was Busy, So the Coiored Dep
uty Was Badly Snubbed.

Inc iuitur vas busNs so tnc tOlOred Dep
uty Was BADLY Snubbed.
zone Of Greeley's pecuiarities," said
Congressman Amos Cummings, twas a
high treble voice of the sort described as
mealy. One of his strong points was his
profanity. To hear Greeley swear in that
piccolo tone was one of the pleasures we all
looked forward to on the old Tribune.
When Greeley was engaged in writing an
editorial, he not only didn't want to be dis
turbed, but you couldn't disturb him. You
might stand at his elbow and sing a song,
make a speech, yell fire or call him names.
Greeley would keep right on with his
writing and never turn his head.
~ recall how big, broad, black preacher
came up from Virginia to see Greeley. He
was as shiny and consistent crow color as
he might have been if he had used stove
polish for bath soap. Greeley was writing
an editorial In those New York days YOU
didn't send your card to the editor. You
came laundering along on your unannounC-
ed, unaided merits, told your story and
were thrown out or made friendly WITH
just rs seemed most likely to swell the sub
scription list or add to the advertising of
the paper. The darby preacher came in and
stood a little to the rear of Greeley, with his
hat in one hand and cane which looked as
if cut from the small end of u buggy tongue
in the other He waited respectful
moment, changed his feet and coughed,
but Greeley never turned hand or head At
last the dark envoy concluded to address
the editor anyhow. He struck great at
titude-I could see him from my room
and bringing the ferrule of the buggy pole
down ON the floor with click said
"'Mistah Greeley, sab, have been dcpu-
tied by the colored people of Nawfolk,
/ N'ginny, sab, to consult with you on the
/ moderation of de condition Of de freed
men of de south
Here he paused for Il profound moment,
while Greeley kept on writing without Civ
ing the slightest sign After moment or
two spent in regarding the back of Greeley s
head, the ambassador shifted his weight
onto the other foot and struck in again.
"'Gen'rul Greeley, sab, dc colorcd people
of Nawfolk, N'giuny, nominated me for de
distinguished honah of II talk with you on
de 'melioratiou of de distressin condition
Of de freedmen of de south
Here came another pause. Greeley kept
ON at his work and paid no more heed than
to the chatter Of the street. The preacher
couldn't W. erstand it, but he made up his
mind to shake once more before be gave up
the box.
"'Jedge Greeley, sab, de colored people
have designated me to come nawth from
Nawfolk and considah with you de harass-
in surroundins of dc freedmen of desouth.
Do you heah me, sahH
AT this point he shifted the buggy pole
into the other hand and shook Greeley by
the arm The old man tore himself from
the grasp of the black commissioner, and
without looking around screamed in the
voice of n wrathful henhawk:
"'Tell your ID freedmen to 20 over
to Jersey and dig potatoes and husk corn
and ameliOrate their own conditions
"If | hadn't been working on The Trib-
une, :" concluded Mr. Cummings, 81 should
have wired down to 'Nawfolk' and had the
ambassadors report of his visit to Greeley
written up for the paper. 1t ought to have
been good reading. "-Washington Post.