The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-06-26
GREELEY AND THE FREEDMEN.

The Editor Was Busy, So the Colored Dep.
uty Was Badly Snubbed.
Zone Of Greeley's peculIarites," said
Congressman Amos Cummings, was .
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 speech, yell fire or call him names
Greeley would keep right on with his
writing and never turn his bead.
II 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 a cane which looked us
II cut from thesmall end of 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 depu.
tied by the colored people of Nawfolk,
V'ginny, sab, TO consult with you on the
'melioration of de condition of de freed
men of de south
Here he paused for profound moment,
while Greeley kept on writing without Civ,
ing the slightest sign. After moment or
twospent 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, de colored people
of Nawfolk, V'ginny, nominated me for de
distinguished honah of a talk with you on
de 'melioration of de distressin condition
of de freedmen of de south
Here came another pause Greeley kept
on ut his work and paid no more heed than
to the CHATTER of the street. The preacher
couldn't urs erstand it, but he made up his
mind to shake once more before he gave up
the boz
"'Je Greeley, sab, de colored people
have designated me to come nawth from
Nawfolk and considah with you de harass
In surroundins of de freedmen of de south
Do you heah me, sahT
''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 wrathfui henhawki
"'Tell your id freedmen to go over
to Jersey and dig potatoes and husk corn
and ameliorate their own conditions
'lf hadn't been working on The Trib-
une," concluded Mr.. Cummings, II 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.