The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-26

policy OF the Tribune. though tnefe hAu
been no positive rupture between Greeley
and his managing editor. There was no
external sign OF disagreement till Dana one
day received notice at his desk hat mis-
services were no longer required, THIS
notice was conveyed to him by direction
Of the board Of managers, but they es.
signed no reason for their action. nor did
they or any one elsa ever CIV him an
authoritative statement OF what they
had based II upon. 1t Is to be observed
however. that Dana acoe1ted theTd,smlsSal
unexpected m II certainly vas, Withon'
demurrer. and at once began preparations
for a new career. He knew. without Tor
4 NAL explanations that the differences oe-
tween Greeley and himself were radiaal
and ~irreoonoilable, not personal but tenn
peramental, not q matter OF habit, but OF
character; and he chose TO submit
Gen. Wilson holds that nobody who knew
the two NOR can read the Tribune Tor the
period under consideration without reach
ing the conclusion that whiie Dana may
nave besn dismissed primarily for publish
ing and raiteratinR the cry OF Forward TO
Richmond which Greeley formally TO-
pudiated Immediately after the battle OF
Bull Run, the real reason was that Dana
WAS 100 bKHfCbblNct IOO pOoibANNT w
confident and too active TO travel longer
in harmony with Greeley. Their natures
az we'll as their opinions about the war
we're lrreparably divergent. and 1t was
doubtless better, therefore, that they
should separate. The trustees OF the
Tribune association in accepting Dana's
resignation as managing editor assured
him by a formal resolution dated March
%, 1852, OF 'their keen sense Of his many
noble and endearing qualities, Of his con-
soientious devotion to the duties OF his
post for 30 many years" and added that
"he still held the highest plaoe in their
esteem and affection and that his salary
would be continued for six months longer"
| So far as his biomapher has been able to
ascertain, Dana never felt any resentment
against those who had combined to depose
him. He was too much the philosopher.
/; In q letter to O friend he narrated the
facts as follows: "On Thursday. March
q, / was notihe d that Mr.. Greeley had
given the stockholders notice that / must
leave or he would, and that they wanted
me to leave accordingly. No cause O
dissatisfaction being ale ged, and II. @.
having been Of late moro confidential and
friendly than ever. not once having said
anything b~etokening disaYection to me. I
sent a friend 10 him to ascertain II 1t was
true or II some misunderstanding was at
the bottom Of It. Ny friend came and
reported that 10 was true and that II. O..
was immovable. On Friday. March %,
l resigned, and the trustees at once ao-
oepted the resignation Dana went on to
record in the came letter thNt on Saturday.
March 20. Mr.. Greeley came TO the Office
Of the paper. called another meeting OF
the trustees, sRaid he had never desired
me TO leave, that Il was q damned lie that
he had presented such an alternative as
that he or I must 60. and finally cent me
q verbal message desiring me to remain as
q writer Of editorials. He has never been
near me since. however, to meet the
damned lie In person, nor written one
word on the subject. / conclude. conse-
quently. that he i glad to have me out
and that he really set on foot the secret
cabal by which II was accomplished"
VIII.
The course pursued by Dana as managing
editor Of the Tribune had come IN be we'll
understood In Washington and had made
him many friends among public men con-
nected with various branches Of the Gov
eminent. His personality and his character
were sharply differentiated from those OF
other New York editors. Scarcely had his
retirement from the Tribune been an
nounced when Secretary Stanton asked him
to enter the service OF the Wa Department,
On June 10. 1852. the Secretary sent Dana an
appointment as member Of q commission to
audit unsettled CLAIMS against the Quarter
masters bureau, and directed him by wire
to proceed ut onoe 70 Cairo. Ill. Among
| D..at. Nalla. An-v1taatNnAHA Uara Gnorwa
8. Boutwell,, afterward Governor Of Massa-
chusetts, Secretary Of the Treasury and
United States Senator; and Shelby NJ.
Cullom, subsequently, Governor Of Illinois
and United States Senator. Within less
than two months 1.eot claims, a~ggregating
about $500, 600. were examined and adjusted
by this commission. The service was in
struotive to Dana because it familiariEed
him with an important branch Of the mill
tary administration and brought him into
contact with many OF the leading citizens
and army officers OF the Northwestern
States.
On July Z, 1892. Dana attended a dinner
given by officers at Memphis. where he met
for the first time Gen. Grant and Mai or
Rawlins. His impress ions were favorable,
for, although he had heard Grant much
discussed and not always in the most com.
plimentary terms. Dana found him an ex-
ceedingly modest. simple. Straightforward
and unAssuming man. Thenoeforth
throughout the Generals military career
the favorable impression which he had
made on Dana suffered no diminution but
grow steadily in depth and strength. The
truth is that. contrary to reports that were
once current, the acquaintance which
began casually ut Memphis developed into
q cordial friendship during the vioksburg
campaign INC finally became the principal
influence which assured to Gen. Grant
the cordial Inc unhesitating support OF
the Lincoln Administration, and especially
OF Secretary Stanton, without which HE
extraordinary career must have come 20
an untimely end.
Toward the close Of 1852 Dana entered
into partnership with Roscoe ConklinE
and another for the purpose Of buying
cotton In such parts OF the Mississippi%ailey
a. had been occupied by the Union forces.
Al there had air eady been a Rreat rise