New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-07-04

THOMAS RITCHIE, the venerable editor, is dead.
Uo u,ss horn during the American Revolution, about
IFS. and accordingly nearly eighty years OF age
Mr. Richie for fifty years was the editorial head
Of Virginia politics. His paper, The Richmond En-
oniyer was the great storehouse of that school OF
teaching 1t was Of the sights of that latitude to
mark how the politicians would pour over the details
of Mr. Ritchies oracular sheet. Ii is not saying too
much to affirm that Mr. Richie ruled the political
affairs of Virginia, but then must add, it was be-
cause they were easily ruled. Democracy in Virginia
means total disregard for the rights of human beings
if they have any black blood in their veins; stold
opposition to home industry, by which the chief part
of the State is kept village; logged alteration of
ignorance, by which eighty thousand whites
dered unable to read or write; superlatiye
under valuation Of positive science and elegant
art, politicians and their parish twaddle be-
ing considered the greatest work in natures
prescriptive right to majority of the presidents
aud an hereditary claim TO sail the talents and the
best resources of the bluebook; an inward eye tina.
ina gnes the plantations and bad agriculture OF the
various counties of the neighborhood to be the head
and front of civilization. 10 this must be added
assaults unmeasured political opponents, especial
ly if they believe in human rights. Provided the
politicians of Virginia could get an editor for haia
century to placard their names and votes and create
their regulations and give them jobs at Washington
or in diplomatic stations or otherwise, they were
content to see their clever drudge poor. Hence Mr.
Ritche-after halcenturys labors in favor of Vir-
einia politicians and his party-eating his words
making Bank and then breaking it-lauding Clay
and then assaulting him-payng the most delicate
compliments TO Harrison " as the General who forgot
..nobody's merits but his own in his dispatches
and then decrying him as petticoat-hero when 1t
was necessary to try to break him down-doing all
and everything for the party-was without property
Proh pndor! Where was the chi alry that forced the
old man in the winter of his days-when he had
labored so for presidents judges, commissioners
and diplomats-to go to Washington and take
to jobbing in the public printing Put not
thy tIust in Princes" Well, Mr. Richie
went to Washington. But his power had departed.
The oracle of Richmond was not the oracle OF Wash
inpton. What was magnificent editorship in coun
try town was next TO nothing when it sought to De
metropolitan. The one eternal PENN the narrow
circle of village poltics-wthout any of the new
ideas On the possibilities of man-wthOut the division
of labor and scholarship necessary to make news
paper worth printing and worth reading-was found
incapable of sustaining itself without the public print
ipg-and over that department we will draw vail.
1t is quite possible however, for an editor who has
been manufacturing during half century presidents
and officeholders who declare that to the victOrs
"belong the spos," to believe that just before he en-
tiers bis eighteth year he should be able to make
something off the party for which he has shaved and in
whose service he has grown gray. He was as good
and generous as the principles in which he was
cast allowed him to be- In private life he was gem
teman hOspitabe, simplemannered courteous and
kind His virtues Were his own-his defects those OF
the society in which he was placed.