New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-25


tellectual tone, for the building mp OF the
vast authority it welded for in word the edit
ing of The Times In che strict of tho word the
credit belongs to Mr.. Delane, and to Mr. Delane
alone On this and kindred points there is great
deal to be said, but wrote at some length
on them at tho time of his res gnstion
and / will not repeat the views tnen eN-
pressed. ] do not hold them any less strongly no"
than then; what has since occurred strengthens
them Some notion Of the range sna s9,uo o IN
ing The Times as il was under him, and The itDes as
il now is, with its editorship III commissich
MR.. pEIANE's METHODS.
The ouantity of work Mr.. Delane did was pro-
dirous- work of the purely editorial kind lie
seldom or never wrote leading article in his own
paper But in one sense he was the author 81
most of them. II was he who cho's ne
topics and dictated the treatment Of thsfn
He had an able staff about him OF p?tc-
tised writeis-and these also he chose-whose main
business il was to pnt into readable shape the ideas
ard views which they received from Mr.. Dclane VI
course don't mean that he supplied more than the
scheme of the articles which these gifted writers
worked out. He took care-and IL was one OF
the secrets of his power, and of tho fresh
ness ard vigor OF The Times leaders-tbat
measures should be advocated by men WHO
believed in them When the paper changed sides
expected to arguc against his own convictions. The
BEST men are not to be had on those terms,
nor do the best men do their best work
under conditions exposing them 10 such
humiliations The routine and method Of
the editorial oiico varied little To the
last Mr.. Delane wrote his own Letters.
never received from him letter not in his own
handwriting from beginning TO end; nor ever saw
one that hc had dictated. One reason of his keep
ing to the old habit may have been that
he wrote exceedingly good letters. They wero
always straight to the point. with never word too
much. In many other ways he adhered to his early
custoDS-:n none more cOnspicuouly than IN his
hours Of work. and the nature of the control he ex-
ercised the daily production of The Times. He
was at the Office by 10 or if dining ont, before II
every evening lie never left till the paper had gone
to press and the first complete printed sheet had
been placed in his hands. Nothing vas there which
had not had his sanction. of the paper lay IN
his mind before 1t went to the stereotyper. lie was
not of those editors who think the " makeGp of a
great journal may be safely left to the night fore
man of the printing Office.
Mr.. Delane's activity ranged over every depart
ment of the paper. don't think he cared deeply
about anything except politics. including under
that head the whole course of public affairs through
out the civilized world. But be supervised every
incredible. Literature art music, commercial news,
trade reports, military and naval intelligence, the
money article the vast series of letters from abroad,
law reports-nay the very police reports and local
items passed, however rapidly. under that all
scrutinzing eye and cool Judgment tie used to say
the great thing was to know what to keep out OF
the paper. Another fayoute phrase with him will be
found embodied in the note below; which again will
show the sort of pains he took. 1t refers 20 the
letter wrote TO The Times on Mr.. Danas rejection
by the Senate Minister to England. MIR. Delane
took the trouble TO strike ont of it personal phrase
or two and closing paragraph in which had ox-
pressed rather free OPINION upon one or two OF the
Senators who had contributed to the contumely
put upon Mr.. Dana. These criticisms in nc degree
helped the argument. they could surely not have
been to the taste of the English public, and Mr.
Delane did service both to Mr.. Dana and to me bg
his expurgatiOns. wrote TO thank him for it, and
he answered.
am very much narered at your taking so well the
II only those OF profession toler
ant OF criticism or who conoede 80 readily that second
pair OF Will see better than the nrsf now IL VIII
look tomorrow"
And since it has sometimes been said that Mr.
Delane shO we'd himself careless about correcting
mistakes committed in the paper atoning for in
juries done to individuals. l will quote one moro
letter-One which explains itself:
was according TO my ordinary habit. out OF town
Saturday, should have written at once 10 express
beg that you wou!d redress II in your language
lnink a contradiction would he more effective Il It came
from you signed With your name ana IL Is my desire 10
make the contradiction as effective as possible
He was rs good as his word. and 1 have TO say
that never appealed in vain to Mr.. Delane's
of justice whether for myself another, nor ever
knew him reluctant to give a hearing to the advo-
cate of an unpopular cause no matter how obscure,
| -. .fnfh fOf
his theory of edltorsup that both sides should be
heard
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.
They say he was inconsistent which IS true. Ii
is as fanlt he shared with the public for HON he
undertook to speak. He did not think it his duty
to be wiser OF more tenacious of opinion than the
world That theory of a journalists duty which
consists in swimming with the stream is not one
which Iprefer but it may at least be said of Mr.. De-
lane that he was consistent in his Inconsistency.
His perception of public opinion. his quickness in
discovering Its changes of mood. his knowledge of
the world about him. his judgment of character,
were all marvellous. He lived much with men.
was deep in the secrets of Minister'S often called in
AZ adviser both IN public and private business was
trusted often and never betrayed his trust.
Personally he a capital type of English
man. both in appearance aud character. Meeting
him in the afternoon on Rotten Row you would
take him for a country gentleman. Probably no
man IN Europe made up his mind so decsively on
so many questions during each day. don't think
he cared much for advice. He had the confidence
in himself which most men of genius for affairs
have. And in Printing House Square he ruled with
a rod of iron. There was a great editor
OF great administrative of any kind who did not.
As much velvet as you please on the gauntlet, but
the steel beneath the essential thing Yet he was
considerable to his subordinates in every possible
wayaware that personal consderateness perfectly
consistent with rigid discipline and ruthless judg