Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-02-10
HORACE eREELEY's CENTENARY.

Oen hundred years ago yesterday
LFeb. 81 a child destined to be for many
years the most famous American journal
list was born in a humble farmhouse at
Amherst, n. H., in the person of Horace
Greeley. Vermont has a direct interest
in this centenary because 1t was in our
own state that he first entered n printing
Office Horace's father became deeply
involved in debt and was evicted from
his home when the boy was ten years old
and the family removed to West Haven,
in this state, where they occupied small
farm and the elder Greeley earned money
by choppng wood.
Three very important events occurred
during Horace Greeley's Vermont resi-
dence which powerfully affected his later
career and had much to do with his sue
cess in life. One of these events was
the privilege of the public library at
Poultney, which opened to the lad the
great world of books and gave him an
opportunity to educate himself The sec
ond event was the securing Of employ
ment In the office of the Northern
Spectator. published at East Poultney.
the beginning of career that was to
lead to the founding and editing of the
New York Tribune and the welding of
power In the shaping of public opinion
such as no other man of his day pos
sessed. The third event was the Joining
Of debating society, or lyceum, which
gave him an insight into public questions
and the opportunity to become n power
full debater.
In 1880 the Northern Star suspended
ton and Horace Greeley left YER
mont to seek his fortune in the state of
New York but his nine years residence in
Vermont gave him such education as he
acquired, initiated him into the news
paper craft and taught him the art of
public speaking. In later years he said
of PoultneY: 81 have never since known
a community so generally moral, intelli-
gent, industrious and frendly-never one
where SO much good was known, and so
little evil said of neighbor by neighbor."
The career of Horace Greeley is one of
! the shining examples of what a poor boy
| may accomplish in America He was
an authority on agricultural matters, one
| of the founders and leaders of the Re-
| publican party, n powerful foe of slavery,
| n strong supporter of the Union during
| the Civil war, and an unsuccessful PreSi-
| dental candidate in 1872. AS author,
| lecturer. editor politician and reformer he
! became one of the most powerful factors
in the life of his time. He was radical
| and erratic in many respects, sometimes
| mistaken but always honest and tremen
| dously In earnest.
His chief power was eXerted as editor
of the New York Tribune, and no man.
through the medium of a newspaper has
done more to shape public opinion during
the past century than Horace Greeley
He was a power for good in the nation
despite his eccentricties. 1t Is by nC
means certain that he would have been
| a success as President II he had beer
elected He was not fitted by nature for
executive duties or for the peddling OF
offices, which was a more strenuous task
| then than now. Very likely he might
have been a failure as President owing tc
his temperament but he is secure ir
his fame as journalist and the United
States does well to honor the hundretf
anniversary of his birth.-[Montpeliel
| Journal