Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-06-23
Death of Henry J. Raymond.

University OF rmo IN lS4U, ana went
directly to the city of New York in the au-
tumn of 1910, and was employed on The
Ne,o- Yorker, for which he had written while
a student. The Tribune was started the
next April, and Mr.. Raymond held the sec
ond place on the Editorial staff from the
outset until the autumn of 1913, when he
resigned it to accept a like position on the
Courier and Enquirer, which he likewise re
linquished after q few years ; visiting Europe
with his family, and being repeatedly elected
to the Assembly of New York, whereof he
was in the second term chosen Speaker. lie
then started The Times, of which he was
from the first sole Editor, though well served
by assistants. He was chosen Lieutenant
Governor of New York in 1854, and elected
to Congress from the Sixth District of that
state in 1864. Mr.. johnson in 1867 nomi-
mated him for Minister to Austria, but the
Senate did not confirm the selection. He
was frequently a delegate to the Conventions
of the Wing and Republican parties, and
was a prominent and influential member of
those organizations. lie was chairman of
the Republican national committee, appointed
by the convention which nominated Mr..
Lincoln for a second term, but was removed
from his position on that committee for his
course in following Mr.. johnson in his apos-
tasy and in the summer of 1866 he was a
prominent member of the arm-in-arm Phila-
delphia convention and the author of the
address which that body put forth in justif-
cation of its efforts to form a third party
hostile at least to the Republican organiza-
ton. His course at that time destroyed his
personal influence as a politician, although
The Times, after that movement became evil
IDENTIFY a failure, has supported generally the
leading measures and men of the Republican
party.
The Ne,c York Tribune, which has not in
its editorial columns latterly expressed much
love for Mr.. Raymond. thus writes Of him
Mr. Raymond's official career, though evinc-
ing ability, did less than justice to his com
prchensive knowledge and rare intellectual
powers. Never so positive and downright in
his convictions as his countrymen are apt to
be, he was often misjudged as a trimmer and
time-server, when in fact he spoke and wrote
exactly as he felt and thought. II what be
uttered to-day was not in full accordance
with what he said yesterday, the difference
eyinced in his essay was n true reflection of
one which had preceded it in his mind. He
saw both sides of a contrOyertcd Issue, and,
if one of them seemed the juster to-day, the
other might nevertheless command his pref
erence tomorrow. This mental habitude is
rare with US, and he would have been more
favorably judged as a journalist or politician
in Great Britain than in this country.
Mr.. Raymond would have ranked in Eng
land as a - al-Conservatiyc, and
would have followed the flag now of Glad
stone, then Of Lord Stanley, occasionally
siding with Robert Lowe, and again Will
Beresford Hope. lie was sincerely favor
able to Liberty, Reform, and Progress he
was no less sincerely ayersc to rash or violent
changes, and anxious that Progress should
be regular aud equable, never shocking a
prejudice nor huttering a timorous breast.
1t is perhaps unfortunate, but none the less
true, that giant wrongs and strongly for
titled abuses are not thus to be oyerborne.
There were probably others who evinced
greater ability in some special department /,
but, regarding journalism in its broadcast as
poets, we doubt whether this country has
known a journalist superior 70 Henry j.
Raymond. He was an admirable reporter,
a discerning critic, a skillful s~elcctOr and
compiler OF news, as well as an able and
ready writer. There was nothing in the
whole range of newspaper work that he could
not do well, and (what Is of equal impOr-
lance } with unhesitating proihptncss. lie
was never too sick 10 work when work had
to be done, and always able and willing u
do any amount Of labor that d. oSi-oucy
might require. Others may have cyinced a
rarcr faculty, which some might term gen
Z Iuz hgr Mr. r. wuuapH embedded fn1anr.
that have rarely been surpassed.
Genial, unassuming, and thoroughly IL
formed by study, observation, and travel, Mr..
Raymond was i delightful companion, and
his society was widely courted and enjoyed.
A thoroughly capable and effective canvasser,
he has for years Stunned public speaking
whenever it could be avoided, finding enough
to do without it, and having no decided love
for the sound of his own voice. Snatched
away 50 suddenly in the prime Of life and
in the midst Of its activities, his death makes
a void that will not be easily filled, while
his widow and children are called to mourn
a loss at once astounding and irreparable.
The above estimate of Mr.. Raymond's po-
litical course is certainly not unfair to him
and we should hardly be inclined to express
SO mild a judgment of the editor Of an inlu-
entail paper, who had the ability which Mr.
Raymond undoubtedly possessed, and who
conducted that paper as The Times has been
conducted. If Johnsonism had proved q
success we doubt if The Times would evel
have abandoned it and we can hardly un-
derstand how an opinion can be honest which
approves a policy when it has a possibility
of popularity, and condemns it in strong anC
forcible arguments when its unpopularity il
clearly shown. But while Mr.. Raymond can
not be truly said to rank among the real lead
ers in the party of freedom and progress
perhaps no man has uttered at times drawer
or better words in support of that party
He has marched with it, and fought its bat
ties valiantly but his weakness and failure
have been that he was not made Of the stuff
that never surrenders an inch to the enemy
He seems to us to have fought rather for
victory than for truth, and at times, to have
been ready to surrender the vital principles
Of the party to give it a temporary advan
tage. This disposition may have originated
as The Tribune suggests, in the constitution
of his mind, but it is none the less a defec
which takes him out of the number of mel
and writers and statesmen who are fit to b.
the leaders of any party, to be trusted il
any emergency, who make their impress upor
the age in which they live, and who direc
the currents of human progress instead 0
simply floating on its tide.
The Peace Jubilee.
The good people of Boston feel that the,