New-York tribune., 1921-03-20
Biography Of a Public Career That
Stretched From Lincoln to Be-
yond Roosevelt $ Last Tenn

- charles ScftcnerS y sons
IAN impersonal title were to be
sought for these volumes, it. nigh,
sell be The Scholar in Politics
This was the subject Of much
a.a.t4d lecture delivered by Whitelaw
sial It represented his constant belief
lit men of trained minds, instead of
,oadsmning political life from the study
xiudow, should step out into its hurly-
burIy and renaake it for their scountry's
I'D. He lived by his precept to the
and Of his long career-from the first
.,m Of Lincoln beyond the last term of
Roosevelt.
This view was poles apart from that
of the Mugwump. The scholar was not
i, patronize government from post of
,loof superiority He must enter into
uolitics, become in fact politician, in
ne sense of learning the art of infiu-
,ncing and organizing public opinion
an art offering singular difficulties and
calling for unusual application and tai
.nt, he conceived. Just how keen a po-
litical sense Whitelaw Reid possessed
the intimate record in these volumes
makes clear. In fact, the fashion in
which it functioned swiftly and intui-
lively in support of Lincoln in 1866
when Reid was a green Ohio editor Of
Venty-threc-raises the one doubt as to
the scundness of plea for any general
INVASION Of politics by scholars. Per-
hsps the art Of politics can be learned
By sheer scholarship and an exercise Of
the will. A ripe knowledge of it was
certainly born in this brash young editor
Of The Xenia News, plunging for the
rsil-splitter of Illinois against the senti-
ment of all Ohio. The scholar must
have a born aptitude for politics or he
had better remain in his study. the
reader will probably conclude to be the
common sense of the Reid theorem.
This aptitude plainly shaped and in
spired the first half of Reid's public
career. 1t is represented by the first of
these volumes. Plainly, too, it was
transformed and operated in very diff
ierent fashion thenceforward. No sharp
line Of demarcation is possible. Perhaps
the death of Garfield, combining tragic
PERSONAL loss with grave political blow,
can serve as a rough mark. At any
nte, somewhere in midchannel the
scholar that had Always been at the
elbow of the politician stepped to the
fore. Reid never ceased to be concerned
in politics. He could not, since diplo.
macy is but politics beyond the seas
The change was one of stress rather
than Of any basic alteration of interest
or character. But it took place, and its
occurrence forms the most interesting
transition of these very human volumes
Mr.. Cortissoz has not attempted tt
ulve problems. He writes frankly with
the warmth of friend and admirer
But his method is the dramatic meth.
Cd throughout. Analysis and judgment
are left to the reader. By document and
letter and fact and scene Whitelaw Reid
Is made to live again; and it is the
highest praise to say of these volumes
that they raise in the readers mind the
sital human problem stated above.
Y is easy to understand the sweep of
events that first drew young Reid
INTO journalism and politics. Born at
Aefiia, in southwestern Ohio, in 1897, he
grew to manhood amid the most STIR
ring years of our political life. The
early chapters give an admirable sense
Of the irresistible conflict as it de-
seloped in a typical pioneer community
and seized upon the imagination and
neart Of young Reid. He was student
At Miami College when the Republican
party was born "under the oaks" He
was graduated in 1856, the year of
fremont. Two years later, while still
under twenty-one, he had bought and
was editing and publishing The Xenia
news. Thus the fateful year of $50
found him preaching the new Repub-
ncanlsm as young evangel from an
established pulpit, small voice and a
local one, but fervent and potent
among his people.
u is plain that young Reid was cap
'ared by the Lincoln personality. With
~ the enthusiasm of youth he spread
Tue Lincoln faith and when the time
,or action came worked hard for Hiv-
"ns' the Greene County delegate who
was destined to vote steadily for Lin
s0'n at the Chicago convention. Ohio,
= whole, was for Salmon P. Chase,
~ tavorite son. But The News never
'sstered, though it stood alone in the
s'sse. Thus it spoke in a typical edi-
''lial worth careful reading:
The real question for the Chicago
s0nvention to decide is: Who is that
s'sar' unquestioned, undoubted Re-
Publican who is fully qualified for
ne office of President, and who, from
vsssion, personal popularity or any
ssnes circumstance, has the best
s"ance OF carrying enough states to
'seufe his election? We consider
,sry state that went for Fremont in
0R safe na.r