The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-14
"SIC GLORIA"
From the louisville courier-Journal.

From the louisville Courier-Journal
7 r pom the passing of Harper's
III weekly-and, If it be passing.
~ of George Harvey-the press has
naturally had deal to say. The Jour
nal of Civilization" established in 1857
by the most prosperous and distinguished
publishing house in the country, had from
first TO last a varied experience. The
original Brothers Harper were Methodists
and democrats. Their leaning before the
war was a little southerly. The coming
of the war threw the pendulum rather
violently in the opposite direction, al
though the Harpers themselves were al
ways personally kind and generous to
southern men.
From George William Curtis to George
Brinton Mcclellan Harvey witnessed a
swinging back of this pendulum.
Between the two extremes lay a world
of history. Curtis belonged to the Brook
Farm school of political transcen-
dentalists. In style and manner he was
an English rector. He had for pictorial
yokemate Thomas Mast. something of a
cross betwixt a German metaphysician
and direct from he-shoulder- hitting
Phillistine. In the beginning Custic held
Mast in a kind of contempt as merely an
illustrator. But, as Mast began to grow,
a jealousy sprang up. With Nasts in
creasing reputation and Importance this
assumed the dimensions of sharp rivalry
and finally of intense hatred on the part
of Mast, vino bitterly resented the lofty
ted xxrif1,
which Curtis habitually treated him.
Franklin Square made a fatal mistake
when 1t let Mast go. 1t should have bid
den good-by to Curtis.
George Brinton Mcclellan Harvey, born
in 1864, is, as his baptismal name implies,
democrat; that is, his father was a
democrat: a New England democrat,
meaning a man Of conviction and endur-
ance. In those days it took such a Yam
kee to stand mis- ground and hold his own.
At the instant of well night ruinous dis
aster George Harvey came to the head OF
the great house of Harper. That he has
kept It ahoat is tribute to his prowess
as a man both of affairs and letters.
That he should part with Harpers Week
ly is tribute to his wisdom and courage.
Under the circumstances it was a hard
thing to do.
The Weekly has been losing money for
20 years. 1t was losing money long before
George Harvey came to it. In assigning
a. reason for this, Colonel Harvey falls
into a kind of anarchronisn when he
says:
"Times have changed. The country was
conservative and thoughtful in those
days. Now it Is radical and inpetuous.
The Weeklys general policy has never
veered. 1t has always stood for progress
along cautious lines. 1t has always held
positive convictions and has never been
timid in expressing them. 1t has always
hated hypocrisy and despised humburg.
Its open eyes have always been turned
forward never backward. The dominant
issue 80 years ago was civil service re-
form; in recent years it has been tariff
reform. The Weekly has been a stanch
and persistent advocate, even leader, OF
both great NOV ements."
Here Colonel Harvey confuses two pc
riods: the one of Curtis and Mast, the
other Of himself. The cause for the fail
ure Of the Weekly is not to be sought In
Its character and management under
either regime. The simple fact is that
the illustrated weekly has been suppressed
ed by the illustrated daily. Nothing more
need be said.
Curtis in his day and order did ad-
mirably-Nast yet still more so--fronl
their side of the fence; Harvey as well
or better from his side; but if all their
energies and talents had been combined
they could not have saved the day. Har-
vey was just as vigorous. just as scintii-
liant, just as representative Of the modern