The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-13

Horace Greeley.

Horace Greeley, founder and longtime
editor or the New York Tribune, was one
OF the most unique. interesting and force
iul characters in American history. He is
remembered by his contemporaries as a
, great editor, power in politics and pos
sessed OF many interesting eccentricities.
William "A. Linn has done a good piece OF
biographical work and presented an ex-
cellent portrayal of Greeley's personal
characteristics in Horace Greeley, Found
er and Editor of the New York Tribune"
While we like 10 hear about a mans per-
sonal characteristics, in studying his biog-
raphy the lessons of life like Greeley's
are to be found in his works. Accordingly.
in this case the author has studied Greeley
In his newspapers, where he left his men
tai photograph. Greeley's newspaper work
began when some of the greatest questions
that ever agitated the country were quies-
cent, and his later journalistic record was
identified with their rise, progress and set
tlement. The author has collated much
new matter concerning Mr.. Greeley's early
struggles and newspaper ventures, his dis
couragements in New York city. his re-
peated failures. his editorial conflicts, etc..
all OF which Is interesting. AS young
careless in his dress. He landed in New
York in 1881, with nothing but his trade as
printer. When in 1874 Colonel James
watson Webb. in the New, York Courier
and Enquirer, accused Greeley of seeking
notoriety by his oddity I'm dress, the Trib-
une retorted that its editor had been
could be If they paid their debts, adding,
that he ever affected eccentricity is most
untrue: and certainly no costume he ever
appeared in could create such sensation
which lanes
son Webb would have worn but for the
ciemency of Governor Seward"-an allu-
sion TO Webb's sentence for fighting duel.
The papers started or edited by Greeley
we've the New Yorker, the Jeffersonian,
the Log Cabin and the New York Tribune
the last alone successful. For a consid,
cradle time the Tribune had hard road
TO travel. One of its early experiences was
a suit for libel brought by j. Fenimore
TS SpG the the novelist Cooper d had sued
verdict of $500. The Tribune published a
letter In which the writer said: The
value of Mr.. Cooper's character, therefore,
worth exactly $500 This led Cooper to
sue Greeley for libel. The trial took place
in Saratoga, in December, ls42 and Gree
Cooper verdict for $500. AS soon as the
result was announced Greeley took
sleigh Cor Troy, where he caught boat,
desk writing his own report Of the trial.
This report, which filled twelve columns
of the Tribune, was finished at IL o'clock
p. m. Cooper made it the ground for an
other libel suit, but that suit never came
to trial. In 1885. while Greeley was pub
fishing the New Yorker, he wrote to
friend, II paid off everybody tonight had
$40 left. and have $3.50 to raise on Monday:
borrowing places all sucked dry i shall
raise 1t, however" Even after he started
the Tribune he wrote In a letter to a
friend Il am poor as a church mouse and
not half SO saucy. But better luck must
come. 1 am fishing for a partner" Per-
sonal journalism was In vogue In those
mics VILLAIN" "old villain" escaped
prison Bird etc. When libel suit went
against Bennett. of the Herald, the Trib-
The low-mouthed, blatant, witless. brutal
scoundrel is Observation-Disclosures, too,
by the people. Let not his sewer sheet roll
its nastiness and filth over. the Goldfish
aristocracies.' as he has called them for
fifteen years" But the Tribune grew and
prospered though slowly. Greeley was
prising in his day, and knew the value of
"a SCOOP" When Henry Clay delivered an
important speech on the Mexican war, In
Lexington, KY, on Nov. Is, is4', the IT'D
une's report of Ii was carried to Cincin-
natl by horse express, and thence trans
mitted by wire, appearing in the Tribune
of Nov. Is. During the Mexican war a
Orleans to Petersburg, Va, the nearest
telegraph station. in this way delivering
the New Orleans papers OF March - at
the telegraph Office on Feb. 4. The Herald
of that day was fully as enterprising as
the Tribune, and both papers prided them
selves on their exploits in getting news,
Later chapters treat of Mr.. Greeley's con-
nection with the tariff fight, the anti
slavery agitation, different presidential
contests, the civil war and his own unfor-
tunate candidacy for President. The au-
thor has told the story of Greeley's career
in a very interesting way and made
graphic portrayal of his character and per-
sonality The book is published In Apple
ton & Co.'S Historic Lives" SERIES