New-York tribune., 1869-06-19

N
In the death of Hon. HENRY j. RAYMOND,
Editor of The New- York Times, the Press OF
our CITY has lost one of its ablest and most
eminent members Mr.. Raymond, after grad
Mating with distinction at the University OF
Vermont. came directly to this City in the
Autumn of 1S40 and was employed on Inc
Ne,r- Yorker, for which he had written with force
and spirit while student The TRIBUNE was
started the next April, and Mr.. Raymond held
the second place on its Editorial stan from tne
outset until the Autumn of 164S, when ne re-
signed it to accept like position on Inc Cou-
y,ier and Enquirer, which he likewise relin-
ouished after few years; visiting Europe
with his family, and being repeatedly eiecteu
TO the Assembly of our State, whereo1 lie was
in the second term chosen Speaker. lie now
started The Times, of which he was from the
first sole Editor, though we'll served by assist
ants. He was chosen Lieutenant-Governor OF
our State in 1854 and elected to Congress from
orr With District in 1864. Mr.. johnson IN 1867
nominated him for Minister to Austria, but the
Senate did not confirm the selection.
Mr.. Raymond's official career, though evlnc-
ing ability did less than justice to his compre-
bensiye knowledge and rare intellectual powers
Never so positive and downright in his cOnYlc-
tions as his countrymen are apt to be- ne was
often misjudged as q trimmer and tlme-server,
when in fact he spoke and wrote exactly as he
| felt and thought. If what be uttered to-day
was not in full accordance with what he SAID
vesterday. the difference evinced in his essay
was q true reflection of one which had pre-
ceded it in his mind. He saw both sides of
controverted issue, and, if one of them seemed
the iustcr to-day, the other might nevertheless
command his preference tomorrow. This men
tai constitution or mental habtude is rare with
us, and he would have been moro IayOi1iDiyy
Judged as n journalist or politician in Great
Britain than in this country.
Mr.. Raymond would have ranked in En-
gland as a Liberal Conservative" and would
have followed the flag now of Gladstone, then
of Lord Stanley, occasionally siding with
Robert Lowe, and again with Beresford Hope.
He was sincerely favorable to Liberty, Reform,
and Progress he was no less sincerely ayerse
| to rash or violent changes, and anxious that
Progress should be regular and equable,
never shocking q prejudice nor fluttering a
timorous breast. 1t is perhaps unfortunate, but
none the less true, that giant wrongs and
strongly fortified abuses are not thus to be
! 0verbOrne.
There were probably others who evinced
greater ability in some special department; /;
but, regarding journalism in its broadest as
pects, we doubt whether this country has
| known n journalist superior to Henry j. Ray
mond. He was an admirable reporter, dis
cerning critic, n skillful selecter and compiler
of news, as well as an able and ready writer.
There was nothing in the whole range OF news
paper work that he could not do well, and
(what is of equal Importance with unhesitat-
ing promptness He was never too sick to work
when work had to be done, and always able
and willing to do any amount Of labor that the
exigency might require. Others may have
evinced a rarer faculty, which some might term
genius; but Mr. Raymond embodied talents
that have rarely been surpassed.
Genial, unassuming, and thoroughly informed
by study, observation, and travel, Mr.. Ray
mond was n delightful companion, and his
society was widely courted and enjoyed. A
thoroughly capable and effective canyasser, he
| has for years Stunned public speaking when
ever it could DO avoided, finding enough to do
without it, and having no decided love for the
sound of his own voice. Snatched away so
suddenly in the prime of life and in the midst
of its activities his death makes void that
will not easily be filed, while his widow and
children are called to mourn loss at once