St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1859-01-06
Obituary.

dear, old home-Pittsburg, has bsen SO
rad ~ this, which announces the death Of
ROBERT ~ RIDDLE. Sketches OF his
life will be written in abundance, for he
had many warm, personal friends; and was
long and widely known as Pittsburs's
most polished and able political editor. :
70 us, therefore, it is left to speak of
him simply as he appeared to us in the re-
lations, Of publisher, printer, business
partner o. employer for twelve years.
Just prior to the getting up Of the Mex
lean war. VIC were writing series Of let
tcrs on Wor'an's Wrongs. They were
published in The Spirit Of Liberty, an
able little Anti-Slavery weekly, published
and edite by REEcE c. FLEEsoS, one Of
the present editors, Of the Ptsbury Dis
patch. ...-s
The rush Of patriotism which carried our
nation into the Mexican war, submerged
the Spirit, which went down gallantly,
maintaining the principle of Liberty or
Death. Pittsbury was thus left without
one paper to utter word against the Pc-
culiar Institution; and her citizens, even
many Of those who had been prominent
Anti-Savcry men, appeared to be drunk
with the glorious prospect Of whipping
that miserable old cripple, Mexico, for the
benefit Of our pet institution. Any one
who breathed word against the war was
giving aid and comfort to the enemy, OBJ
tanned the brand Of traitor and, if politi-
clan, signed his own political death war
rant
1t was not customary then for American
women to write about anything ''5ut moon
shine, spring flowers and the art of cook
Ing" and when we resolved. if we could
gain a medium Of communication with the
public, to throw ourselves directly across
the current Of public sentiment, we were
strengthened for the task by the reflection
that We had no children to suffer by the
disgrace, and public scorn into which we
were about to plunge.
There was no editor we knew even BY
eye sight; but old Judge RIDDLES wife
was member in our church; and one of
her Sons owned and edited the PiNsJuro
Commercial Jour"a1, a leading Wing pa
per, and in its columns our letters had
lccn fayourably noticed.
The journal was fully committed to
The war policy; but our faith in female in
fuenccs led us to think that the son of
such mother must have strong internal
sense Of natural justice and would not re-
fuse a hearing to the other side.
10 him we sent our communications;
and while he protested against our senti-
'nents he gave us such prompt and re-
spccttul hearing rs commanded the re-
spect Of his readers; and enabled US to
produce all and more than all the effect we
had hoped for.
This required considerable editorial in
dendencc: for VIC went upon the principle
OF wasting no powder, spending no time
battling the air Or talking Of distractions;
but adopted the old Revolutionary tactics
of taking aim and shooting the enemies
officers. "-'
In carrying out this plan VIC made d.
rect, personal nay: almost objectionable at
tacks upon many Of the most influential
citizens, including Hon GABRIEL ADAMS
who is an elder in tho church which
brought us up in the hatred Of Slavery,
who was then Mayor of the city, and is
Row Judge Of district Court; and on
Hon CHARLES SMALLER, Mr.. RIDDLES
brotl,er-in-la from whose house We now
learn he has departed to the Better Land.
There il no place in the Union where
less PRIDE IS felt IN tile tcats OF that das-
tardly war than in Pittsburs, and for the
correctness Of sentiment her Anti-Slayery
citizens. are indebted to the, courage and
fairness Of RoBEnr NJ RIDDLE, who
kept his columns open fer discussion, and
published many articles from able writer's
Who took the side Of peace.
/ We followed our war articles with a Sc
pics Of letters=on the legal expressions to
which women were subjected. he gave
these such respectful attention, 50 far en-
dorsed our STRUCTURES o. Pennsylvania law,
aud The Jou,:n11l stood soshigll in politi-
cal circles, that, il the attention Of our
Legislators vas called to the matter; and