The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-23
Death OF Wi Lin m Cassidy, of Albany


tor and editor of the democratic State organ,
the Albany Argus, died at his residence in
that city yesterday morning, after brief i'll
ness. Mr.. Cassidy was forcible political
writer, and was for many years one of the knot
of democratic politicians which ruled The des-
TIMES of that party in this State and some
times in the national conventions, and to
which had descended the name of the Albany
Regency" formerly enjoyed by Croswell and
his associates. The principal members of this
clique were Dean Richmond, Peter Cagger and
William Cassidy, and the last of the trio has
now passed away. The power they welded in
the party was mainly due to the fact that mono
of them were aspirants for Office. Mr.. Cas-
sidy was, indeed, the only one who ever held
any public position. and his services to
the State were confined to constitutional
conventions, Of two of which, including that
now in session, he had been q member. He
lived long enough to see the party in whose
cause he had labored SO assiduously, and to
many of whose victories he had contributed,
broken and scattered, and hopelessly destroyed
as political organization. The Albany man
ayers Of the democracy held their rule through
the power of the party in the State. For some
years they had been in conflict with the lead
ers from the city of New York, who had as
PRED to control the State policy and nomina-
tons, and up to the time of Dean Richmond's
death they had generally carried off the VIC
tory. After the loss of their chief the strength
of the city patronage became too great for
them, and the management of the "slate''
passed out of their hands. It is proper to
state, however, that the Albany clique sided
with the Tammany leaders during
the divisions in this city, and did
much to build up the old Tammany
Ring by conceding to that branch of
the party the advantage Of recognition as the
regular organization. It was only when
Tweed and his associates grew overbearing in
the State through the power of their plumber
in the city that the Albany leaders renowned
the Tammany Ring. It was then too late.
The glaring corruphons in the municipal gov
eminent and the debauching of Legislature
after Legislature had been fatal to the pros
poets of the party, and the democracy was to-
tally destroyed as political organization.
covers the history of his party from the time
of the quarrel between Cass and Van Buren,
and the division Of the New York democracy
into the Hunker and Barnburner factions
The deceased journalist had studied law in
the Office of John Van Buren,, then
of Albany, and they became warm per-
sonal friends. Edwin Croswell was edit
ing the old Albany Argus, which was
established in 1913, and no person was
found able to cope with that experienced
politician in political controversy. Mr. Cas-
sidy first wrote articles for two Albany papers
Of little note, and his pointed and forcible
style speedily attracted attention. The Van
Burenists purchased the Atlas, which was
started by Cornelius Wendell, and put Mr..
Cassidy into that journal as editor Before
long the Atlas surpassed the Argus in circula-
ton and influence, and Croswell retired from
the latter paper. The war was kept up vigor-
ously by the Atlas until the reunion of the
democratic factions took place, when the two
rival democratic organs became consolidated
under the name of the Atlas and Argus. Sub
sequently the former title was dropped and
the paper was made joint stock estab-
ishment, retaining the old name of the
Argus 1t has been prosperous
concern, mainly through the profitable
character of the State printing, which
has proved sufficient to support all the leading
political papers at the capital, Independent of
circulation, and which the organs of the two
parties generally manage to divide up between
them, the one in power for the time being
taking the lions share and giving its oppo-
nent sufficient to keep it silent on the matter
of plumber and jobbery
As a sharp political writer Mr. Cassidy had,
probably, few superiors. His style was caus-
tic, and probably no greater contrast was ever
presented between ability and mere political
chicanery than was discoverable in his numer-
Gus controversies with Thurlow Weed, of the
Albany Evening Journal But Mr.. Cassidy
lacked application and earnestness of purpose.
He seemed to regard political editing more
as a sport than as serious duty, and no person
could appreciate more thoroughly than himself
the hollowness and fraud of much of the
political argument which he was, neverthe-
less, at all times prepared to use. His real
ability as writer cannot, however, be Justly
by his political writings. He had
wit, brightness and polish in no ordinary de-
gree, and he was good classical scholar and
a faithful reader. His taste led him to French
literature, and in his sparkle and quickness of
repartee he really belonged to the French
school. His newspaper articles were pecu-
LARRY epigrammatic and were always readable.
In political controversy he was INSCRIPTIONS
and merciless, and he sometimes INDUCED in
sarcasm and personality at the expense of
effectiveness and policy. His great failing,
however. was want of that steady application