Evening star., 1911-01-29

tion OF the fact that the whig party
was moribund; we had heard much
New York state OF the republican party,
of which his newspaper was the rec
ognized organ. I had myself quilted
the democratic party on the slavery
young democrats in Hamilton who were
glad to share in the first republican
campaign. Fremont had been nomi-
mated for President. Already the pop
JESSIE in recognition of the intel
lectual power OF Mrs. Fremont, who,
when the general married her, was
Jessie Benton, was on every young re-
publican'S lips.
The young republican party was to hold
a state convention at Syracuse. and we
learned that Horace Greeley was to be q
delegate to the convention, and would
take an active part in IT. l remember
seeing statement in a Syracuse news
paper that undoubtedly Horace Greeley
would be made chairman of the commit
tee on resolutions, so that he would dra1t
the first resolutions for the republican
party OF New York state.
OF course, we were all very anxious 10
visit Syracuse and take part as specta-
tors or as delegates in the convention.
1t had been exactly four years since |
had seen Greeley, but I had no sooner
entered the hall at Syracuse than rec
ognized him, sitting with the New YORK
delegation. And l may say that Horace
Greeley always looked the same to me-
so far as figure and face and general ap-
pearance were concerned, as he dld upon
the first occasion when I saw him IN
1852 / took an affidavit from him twenty
years later, and he did not look day
older than he did in 1852
At Syracuse 1 speedily saw that Greeley
was the central figure Of the convention.
1t was understood that the convention
would nominate John A. King for gov
ernor, as it did. But what the delegates
were particularly anxious to know was
how Horace Greeley would write the
principles Of the new republican party into
the platform Of the first republican state
convention of New York. / remember
distinctly that after the committee on
resolutions had been announced. with
from his place with the New York dele
gates and stood in the center aisle look
ing about him so that he might summon
the members OF the committee on reso-
lutions. He seemed to be unconscious of
the fact that every eye was upon him.
He was neatly dressed. wore frock
coat with long tails. and. if I remember
correctly, carried a slOuch white felt hat.
/ recall how bright his eyes were, now
they cleaned behind his gold-bowed
SpcCIdCIoS. Ills Idt0 lldu d SOIk VI DC-
nign, kindly. paternal expression Of good
nature. but / don't remember to have
seen him actually smile. However. his
face suggested smiles. and he smiled
with his eyes rather than with his lips.
After some delay. the cause for which
/ have forgotten-probably it was some
organization proceedings-the committee
on resolutions was called upon to report.
Greeley rose and mounted the platform.
can't think OF any more appropriate
description OF the scene than that which
is expressed by the saying, you could
hear a pin DROP.
Greeley advanced to the very end Of
the platform, unfolded his manuscript
and read the resolutions No one could
have doubted that he wrote them. There
was the same vigorous. sinewy English
for which he was famous and there was
the same ringing note OF sincerity and
triumph in the resolutions that charac-
terized the editorial page Of the Tribune.
Greeley's reading of the committees re-
port was with his peculiar falsetto voice.
/ call it falsetto because there is no
other term which could adequately de-
scribe that voice. And he made all his
gestures by his modulations OF tones.
X 4
We sat enthralled. But when he had
finished the convention became uproari-
ously demonstrative. We knew that the
principles Of the republican party had
been so perfectly expressed and expound-
ed by this master hand that in all proba-
blity they would be used as the keynote
for republican organizations in every
state-as, in fact. was the case.
Some time after I had moved to New
York city 1 learned that Greeley was to
deliver a lecture on Franklin. Thurlow
Weed had told me that Franklin was
Greeley's ideal American. Franklin had
been printer. and Greeley began his
career-as Thurlow Weed himself did, and
as / did also-at the printers case. Mr..
Weed also told me that Greeley was al