New-York tribune., 1911-02-04
The Climax and Catastrophe.

We come 10 the climax and the catas-
trophe. In May. 1872, the Liberal Repu0l-
can Convention at Cincinnati nominated
Greeley for the Presidency. This futile but
rOt unpatriotic movement was a Republican
revolt against President Grant, led by emi-
neut and high-minded men whose confidence
was shaken. perhaps too soon, by the mis-
takes Of his first administration and the sin
lister influence Of worthless camp followers
about min. The Cincinnati platform, uneX-
CeptiOnab be in tone. took Creeieys stand for
universal amnesty and impartial suffrage.
and Greeley letter Of acceptance declared
his belief that the people, North and South,
We're ready 20 clasp hands across the
bloody chasm.' a phrase that passed into
popular shibboleth. Forthwith upon this
nomination all tie vials OF partisan rancor
We're opened and poured out upon him He
had asserted his independence Of party, the
mortal sIn OF politicians All mat he had
done for the party and the country was
forgotten IN moment Calumny outran
itself and Greeley was lampoOned. abused
and reVlleC with 2 brutal feroCity unknown
even 10 the prizering Of politics. The
Democratic convention meeting at Bdltl-
more IN July adopted the Cincinnati candi-
dates and platform and Greeley accepted
the nomination This sealed his fate.
though it was not otherwise doubtful The
diStrus' Of Greeley'4 new alliance was not
unnatural or urtHlnded. and Greeley him
self. with aI .. virtues. did not strike the
popular ln-- ae a safe candidate for
the Presii.n.. Apart from this the mill
tarv prestige NJ President Grant would have
carried ali before il The people remem-
bered the victorious general and they forgot
everything else Greelcy's defeat was fore
ordained az AppOmattCX
The loss Of the Presidency was no mis-
fortune. II would have added little. per
haps nothing. 10 his permanent reputation
Fortunate that he escaped the fate Of some
In that tl.ustriOus line. for whom oblivion
would be @ happy exchange A man Of
genius. with the faults that attend u, he
was not Il the stuff of which Presidents
made HfgH character md
purpose he had. bat not the cool and bal
snced Judgment. the "surefOoted mind
and supple tempered will that ought 70
be found IN the head OF the nation In
temperament he was less a statesman than
mo~aist and refOrmer though what over
flowed from Greeley into the field Of state
craft would make the reputation Of many
statesmen II is enough for his fame that
he had as large a part as anv man Of his
time m forging the weapons that struck
down the Shareholders rebellion and saved
the Union that slavery would have de-
. stroved The great citizen. whose eX-
ample was the shame Of every coward and
hypoo-ite. who never stided his honest
thought nor bent his knee 10 power, whose
character and voice Of authority made
legislatures listen and statesmen sir az his
feet viii he remembered when Presidents
are forgotten.
4 message was read from Mrs Frank "
Clendenin. Mr. Greeeys daughter and
there were brief speeches by representatives
Of the daily and weekly press Of New
Hampshire.
Following the meeting and the addresses
the crowds listened 20 many anecdotes Of
Greeley. told by some Of the oldest inhab-
itants Of the town and vicinity An old
fashioned country dinner was served In the
town hall and IL was dark, and the ancient
kerosene lamps We're lighted. before the
crowds left the hall