Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-10-18
prAru or a OMAR AMnmoAN.

whether greatness be deemed synon-
ymous with fame or whether 1t be de-
fined as the power united with the
disposition to do good. It must be con-
coded to Charles A. Dana. His worst
enemies cannot deny this.
He was one of the greatest of Amerl-
cans. and not one has exerted, out OF
the resources OF his own personality az
DISTINGUISHED from the prestige and
power Of official position. more
marked influence over the policy ana
legislation of the nation than has he.
whether he. or Horace Greeley,or Hen
ry ]. Raymond, or George w. child
Will be rated by posterity as the great
est American editor, is question
posterity must decide; but If, as seems
most likely, in the judgment of his
tory. Child's greatness will rest more
upon his goodness than his resources
of intellect, and II an innate power to
mould mems minds by the arguments
of the iconoclast shall be deemed n
greater gift than the power to sway
them by appeals to their patriotism
and sense OF right and honor, then
Dana will be given the place Of the
greatest American editor who has yet
become known to lis countrymen.
Again, If it shall be held that the
ability to conceive a lofty ideal of a
newspaper and to organize and train
corps of workers so that they will
make that ideal reality, is the stand
ard by which to measure the greatness
of journalist, Charles a. Dana stands
without a peer; for, waving ethical
discussion, he gave the world for three
decades the most perfect newspaper it
has ever seen.
He was great in literature apart
from Journalism, and were 1t not that
his fame in the latter calling so far
eclipsas his achievements in the form
er. his work as author, critic and COM
piler would secure to him n lofty
niche in the temple of letters He was
linguist, n profound scholar, stu
dent of philosophy, and in his early
life enlisted in some schemes Of social
reform that are now looked upon as
dreamy and impracticable in the ma
ture of things.
He was born In Hinadale, New
Hampshire, Aug. s, 1919. Not long
afterwards his parents removed 20
| Buffalo, N. Y, where his boyhood was
spent. He worked in store until is
years old, after which he studied at
Harvard. His first connection with
| journalism was as manager Of the
Harblnger, n Boston publication de-
| 81 In, tsttr
! fortles. Next he worked about two
years on Boston daily, the Chrome
type. In 1917 he Joined the staff Of the
New York Tribune. and next year be-
came its managing editor, a position
he retained till 1852.
He was assistant secretary Of war
during and after the rebellion. and dis
played great ability and patriotism in
that capacity. In 1867 he organized n
company that purchased the New York
| Sun, OF which he became editor, and he
personally contributed to and con-
! trnled It's editorial columns until at
tackled by his last illness. He died at
/ 1920 p. m.October 18th.
Charles \. Dana was an inconoclast.
but he was patriot. He was Il man
Of strong prejudices, and his pursuit Of
General Grant from the time Of the
latters first election as President to
the very close OF the pltiful scenes at
Mt. McGregor. is cited as proof that
he was an implacable and revengeful
foe. And out of this trait of his char
acter arises the only cloud that can
| ever cast "a shadow upon his enduring
| fame.