In the history of journalism, Horace Greeley must, for all time, hold a
position in the front rank. As it is well-known he is a self-made man,
being born of poor parents at Amherst, New Hampshire, on the 3rd day of
February, 1811. His father was a farmer. The Greeley ancestors enjoyed a
reputation for 'tenacity,' which was clearly shown in the pale-faced,
flaxen-haired but precocious lad of fifteen, who presented himself and
was employed at the office of the _Northern Spectator_, at Poultney,
Vermont, in 1826; having walked from West Haven, his home, eleven miles
distant. He was to remain an apprentice until twenty, and received in
money the princely sum of forty dollars a year 'with which to buy
clothes and what was left he might use for spending money.' Why he lived
to found a great paper the reader can easily guess, when it is learned
that Greeley used the greater part of said forty dollars each year for
buying books.
He joined a local debating club where he became the 'giant' member, a
tribute paid to his intellect. Most of the members were older than
Greeley, but knowledge proved a power in that society and he was
invariably listened to with marked attention despite his shabby
appearance. Especially was he fond of political data; he followed the
exchanges in the _Spectator_ office with increasing interest. His
parents removed to Pennsylvania, where he visited them during his
apprenticeship as "printers' devil," and general assistant at Poultney,
walking the most of the way, a distance of about 600 miles. The
_Spectator_ having collapsed, young Greeley, with his entire wardrobe
done up in a handkerchief, once more visits Pennsylvania, but not to
remain idle; he soon obtained a place in a printing office near his
home, at eleven dollars per month, and later still he obtains employment
at Erie where he receives fifteen dollars per month. Soon after this,
not yet content, he is enroute for New York, where he arrived August 17,
1831.
His appearance in the metropolis was ludicrous in the extreme. One can
imagine from accounts given of him how prepossessing he must have
looked; flaxen locks, blue eyes, his hat on the back of his head as if
accustomed to star gazing, must have given him the appearance of one
decidedly 'green,' to say the least. As is a noted fact he was, to his
death, exceedingly indifferent as to his dress and what are known as the
social demands of society. Indeed he could be seen on the street almost
any day with his pockets stuffed full of papers, his hat pushed back on
his head like a sailor about to ascend the rigging, his spectacles
seemingly about to slip off his nose, his boot heels running over, and
we doubt not that he was as likely to have one leg of his pantaloons
tucked into his boot top while the other was condescendingly allowed to
retain its proper place. In fact it is hardly probable that he would
have impressed any one with the idea that he was indeed a great editor
of that city. But we return to his first visit; office after office was
visited without avail but that hereditary 'tenacity' did not forsake
him, and at last he met an old friend, a Mr. Jones whom he had first met
in Poultney. This friend, although not a 'boss,' printer fashion set him
at work on his own case. When the proprietor came in he was dumbfounded
at the specimen of a printer he beheld, and declared to the foreman that
he could not keep him. Fortunately, however, for young Greeley, the job
that he was on was setting small type,--a most undesirable one. The
foreman shrewdly suggested that as Jones, who was a good workman, knew
him it would be a good policy to wait and see the result. As it was a
very difficult job no wonder that Greeley's proof looked as though it
had the measles, but as he was retained he must have done as well if not
better than was expected. When the job was finished he was thrown out of
employment, and he shifted about for some time doing odd jobs; in fact
it must have been very discouraging, but finally he obtained employment
on the _Spirit of the Times_, and afterward formed a business
partnership with Mr. Story who, with Mr. Greeley, invested about $240.
They established a penny paper, and were moderately successful, but Mr.
Story was drowned and his place was filled by another. His connection
with the _New Yorker_ was his next business venture. While on this
paper he was also editor of a paper in Albany, and a regular contributor
to the _Daily Whig_. When we think that he gave himself only four hours
sleep out of the twenty-four, we can realize how he could find time to
edit two papers and write for the third, but despite this assiduousness
his enterprise failed and he thereby lost $10,000.
Greeley's opinion on economy was clearly defined when he said: "For my
own part, and I speak from sad experience, I would rather be a convict
in States Prison or a slave in a rice swamp, than to pass through life
under the harrow of debt. If you have but fifty cents and can get no
more for the week, buy a peck of corn, parch it, and live on it rather
than owe any man a dollar." He next started the _Log Cabin_. It was
started in the beginning of 1840, designed to be run six months and then
discontinued. Into this undertaking Horace Greeley threw all his energy
and ability, guided by his experience. In those days a journal with a
circulation of ten thousand was a big concern. When an edition of nearly
fifty thousand of its first issue was called for, the publishers were
beside themselves, and later when the _Log Cabin_ ran up a circulation
of eighty and even ninety thousand, the proprietors were frantic as to
how they should get them printed. It is needless to say that the _Log
Cabin_ outlived its original expectations.
Ultimately the _Log Cabin_ and the _New Yorker_ were merged into the
_New York Tribune_. As is a recognized fact, Greeley was stronger in a
fight than in peace, and the attacks which this new enterprise received
soon run its circulation from the hundreds into the thousands. Of course
new presses had to be bought and Greeley, who by the way preferred to
discuss the financial policy of a great nation than that of his own
office, soon found himself obliged to get a business man as a partner.
He was exceedingly fortunate in securing Mr. Thomas McElrath, who soon
brought order from chaos, and the _Tribune_ became not only an ably
conducted paper but a paying one as well.
Mr. Greeley next became a lecturer, and in this field he was also fairly
successful. He traveled in Europe and wrote such books as "Hints About
Reform," "Glances at Europe," "History of the Slavery Extension,"
"Overland Journey from New York to San Francisco," "The American
Conflict," "Recollections of a Busy Life," "Essays on Political
Economy," and just before his death, "What I Know About Farming."
While Mr. Greeley must ever be regarded among journalists as one of
their brightest stars; he was one of the most peculiar writers it has
ever been our pleasure to read. In fact he must be regarded as a kind of
literary gymnast. While conducting a political paper he at one time
devoted page after page to the theory of reorganizing society after the
plan of Fourier; that is to divide society up into small communities to
live in common. After wearying the readers on this and numerous other
'isms,' it was discontinued. He went into a political frenzy over Clay
and protection; next his paper was full of the 'Irish Repeal,' 'Advocacy
of the Water Cure,' 'Phrenology,' 'Mesmerism,' 'Opposition to Capital
Punishment,' 'Trinitarianism' and the 'Drama.'
He was finally elected to Congress to fill an unexpired term. While here
he caused some amusement by his eccentricities. He refused to sit up at
night sessions, abruptly leaving when his hour for retiring arrived.
Possibly his letter addressed to the managers of his party in his State
was one of the greatest surprises that he ever sprung upon the country.
It was addressed to Mr. Seward personally, but upon mention being made
of it by that gentlemen's friends, it was made public by Greeley's
demand. It ran something as follows: "The election is over, and its
results sufficiently ascertained. It seems to me a fitting time to
announce to you the dissolution of the political firm of Seward, Weed
and Greeley by the withdrawal of the junior partner, said withdrawal to
take effect on the morning after the first Tuesday in February next. I
was a poor young printer, and editor of a literary journal--a very
active and bitter Whig in a small way, but not seeking to be known
outside of my own ward committee. I was one day called to the City Hotel
where two strangers introduced themselves as Thurlow Weed and Lewis
Benedict, of Albany. They told me that a cheap campaign paper of
peculiar stamp at Albany had been resolved on, and that I had been
selected to edit it. I did the work required to the best of my ability.
It was work that made no figure and created no sensation; but I loved it
and I did it well."
"When it was done you were Governor; dispensing offices worth three to
twenty thousand to your friends and compatriots, and I returned to my
garret and my crust and my desperate battle with pecuniary obligations
heaped upon me by bad partners in business and the disastrous events of
1837. I believe it did not occur to me then that some one of these
abundant places might have been offered to me without injustice. I now
think it should have occurred to you. In the Harrison campaign of 1840 I
was again designated to edit a campaign paper. I published it as well
and hence ought to have made something out of it despite its low price.
My extreme poverty was the main reason why I did not."
"Now came the great scramble of the swell mob of coon minstrels and cider
suckers at Washington, I not being counted in. I asked nothing, expected
nothing, but you Governor Seward ought to have asked that I be Post
Master at New York."
When the Republicans met at Chicago he 'paid' Mr. Seward off by
checkmating his chances of the nomination, and placing Lincoln at the
head of the ticket. Mr. Greeley had always been an uncompromising
opponent of slavery, and once had all but asked for the impeachment of
Buchanan, hence the South expected little sympathy from him; yet, this
great editor dismays his friends while his enemies are dumbfounded when
they read, "Let the South go," but no sooner do the 'erring sisters' act
upon his suggestion than this political ranchman is out with his
literary lasso vainly trying to keep them in. He next raises the
war-whoop of "On to Richmond," and thereby aids in precipitating the
terrible disaster of Bull Run. Time goes on--the Union cause looks
gloomy enough--all seems lost; yet, when once more the nation needs his
powerful support he rushes off to Canada unauthorized, to negotiate a
treaty with Southern Envoys which, to say the least, would have been
disgraceful to the Union Government. When the cause is won he flees to
Washington to sign the bail-bond of the arch traitor, and is thus
instrumental in his release from justice. Yet, for all this the
_Tribune_ prospered.
He was regarded by many of his readers as a kind of moral law-giver, and
if, per chance, one person journeyed to New York and returned to state
that their beau ideal had used undue profanity in his common
conversation, the indiscrete individual was ostracised.
If Mr. Greeley's previous career had surprised the country and
disappointed some of his friends, it remained for the last political act
of his life to completely paralyze the country at large, and plunge some
of his most ardent supporters into the deepest gloom. This was when they
beheld him the nominee of Republicans, 'who were anything to elect
Greeley,' and endorsed by Free Traders and Democrats whom he had so
bitterly denounced all his life. Had he been nominated by the straight
Republican party it might have been considered as a somewhat extravagant
reward for party service for this position could not have been regarded
otherwise than consistent; but the position he now assumed was
inconsistent, not to say ludicrous. The result was he carried only six
States against the successful Grant.
He was a Universalist in belief, but educated his daughters at a
Catholic school. He refused to get his brother, who actually needed
assistance, a position worth perhaps $1,000 a year; yet, he could lend
Corneel. Vanderbilt about eight hundred thousand dollars without
security. His early friend, Mr. Jones, once sent a friend to him bearing
a note requesting Greeley's aid to a subordinate position in the
custom-house. No sooner had Greeley glanced it over than he astonished
the gentleman, who was aware of Mr. Greeley's early obligation to Mr.
Jones, by the volley of oaths and vituperation which he heaped upon him
because he did not go West instead of hanging around there seeking
office. No wonder the gentleman, who was a reputable middle-aged man,
fled from the presence of this famous expounder of 'Moral Ideas.'
However, when all this has been said we cannot help but admit that a
great and good man died on December 29th, 1872. Certain it is that
Journalism lost one of its brightest and most successful stars.