New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-03
IN MEMORY.

Another JOURNALIST Is gone. DedJH Icdpo Oi"0O
this year. But this loss touches The TRIBUNE
more nearly than any late parting in the guild
has done. For many years Alr. Richardson
has been an honored and valued attache OF
this journal. No man connected with IL mas
offered moro truthful, more fearless, more
conscientious, more exact. moro patiently con
scientious work. His well known instincts were
the guarantee of absolutely trustworthy intorma-
ton. His brightness of method and variety
of resources made his letters very attractive,
and probably no present correspondent OF met
ropolitan journal was known to so wide pubic
rs he. His two or three remarkably successful
books increased this reputation, and he was
beginning to be known also as clever maya
zine writer Still young man, growing IN
power, and with very great capacities OF growth,
he gave promise of accomplishing some one
work which the world would not willingly let
die. A genial, robust, and singularly sweet
nature, he made an atmosphere of good fellow
shin wherever he went. Generous to fault,
and often rash in judgment. he had
staunch and helpful loyalty about him.
which charmed and held all men who knew
him well. 1t is not strange therefore that his
illness turned toward him such food OF
kindness and sympathy rs could have nOweo
TO almost no other man under similar circum-
stances
OF those circumstances we do not now IN
tend to speak Even if they are regarded as
legitimately a matter of journalistic comment
in view of the imminent action OF the
Courts. il ia still q matter of extreme
delicacy for THE TRIBUNE to offer judg-
l,ro nf virtually
life is set in judgment-who FOR long years
has served it faithfully, who has not once but
often faced death in its service. and to whom
finally, death came within its precincts.
But we take this occasion to enter once more
our most solemn protest against this murder-
GUS taking of the law into his own hands by
any assassin who can skulk behind a doort0 SHOOT
q drawer and better man than himself Granting
the tale-rather, it shovld be said, the hundred
contradictory tales of this assassin-to be true,
he had himself precluded an excuse OF out
ragged honor 10y an appeal to civil ulOuhaiS
and an assessment OF bis wrongs
at the comfortable sum of Si5,OOO
damages. Granting the tale. and he had him
self precluded the excuse of outraged honor
by waiting nearly three years in comparative
quiet, Jne NlllIt Ills pICOcilutu VhVhJ ""'HSN Wv
street serehely, often met him face to face, and
went about his business diligently. Granting
the tale, he has himself precluded the excuse
of the madness of outaged honor, in that he
has logged tho footsteps Of his victim by night
laid in wait for him at ferries, haunted the
neghborhood of his house, and at last prowled
about his own business premises to take him
off.
If this murderer had any provocation for his
deed, we insist that it be known. We call for
the most rigorous and searching inquiry. We
have no wish, as We have no power, to pre-
Judge the case. But there has been
more than enough of this business
of theatrical vengeance. When an evil
tempered fellow finds that plea of suspicion
of his wife avas him to kill on sight
any man who happens to be obnoxious
to him, no mans lite is safe
for an hour In this coming trial
it is not alone the State of New.York against
Daniel Mcfarland. 1t is civilization against
barbarism 1t is the civil code against the code
of the assassin.