Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-19

UeW 1ugA Hassiaxs Rsse erom sao
Ranks - Dsssaacsten IN Hlts Preses.

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Mr. Hastings was born In the north NJ Ir>
land August 20. 1890 and MAS brought to this
country when eight years old. The family set
tied In Albany, and he began his newspaper
career In lS40 by contributions to the Albany
Atlas. He was made q reporter OF the paper,
and shortly after city editor. His dashing,
poignant style Of writing made O decided hit,
which so encouraged him that In ls4S, with
a capital OF $50 cash and unbounded
courage and confidence he started the
Dd''y ka'cSobocker as q penny paper. It
was on the Sd OF September the day on which
ne received his fatal accident. that the first
number was issued and II proved n decided
success from the start. Friends loaned him a
press and type. and he did much of the work
In all departments himself He was enter
prising and venturesome In procuring the
latest news. and was the first editor To
make extensive use Of the telegraph service
for that purpose. The occasion was the secur-
ing OF the Presidents message, which Was
looked forward TO with anxiety. as the country
was then at war with Mexico The Journal and
Argus refused to admit him into their arrange
ment Of chartering steamer to bring the mes
sage up from New York, and he sent dispatch
to Theodore Paxton at Utica. president of the
company. asking he could have the message
sent by telegraph. The latter thought II could
Sloo. The trial was successful and the carriers
were crying out, ''hnioktvJockts--pres
message" before the chartered steamer had ar
rived The hnicke6ockr thrived and it's cir
paper In the city.
Mr. Hastings was a born politician. and the
poiitica hot-bed at Albany gave full scope to his
productions. Even before he was "A voter he
became ideltiiied with the whg party as one OF
ITS strongest advocates. He was an early friend
OF General Taylor, and when the latter became
President he accepted the position of collector
OF the port of Albany. which he held until the
General s death. when his opposition TO Fillmore
induced him to throw IL up. He allied himself
Win Weed and Seward, and for over
twenty-five years one of the formers trustiest
leutenants. He thus became a violent
''woolly-headed whig." and as a delegate to
the national whig convention I'm 1852. he
voted on every ballot tor General Scott In
1854 he was made clerk of the state senate.
the last wing incumbent of the Office He took
an active part In organizing the republican
party and was prominent i'm all OF its conyeu-
lions. state and national from the first, as he
had been in the whig conventions before His
hand could be seen, too, in the organization OF
almost every legislature and the election OF
almost every United States Senator from New
York since 1SiS. he was warm friend OF
Henry j. Raymond, whom he helped TO elect
speaker of the house and greatly aided in
nominating for lieutenant governor.
He came to New York i'm 1867 and purchased
controlling interest In the Commercial Adper.
fiser, which he built up from a colorless sheet to
a recognized and representative party organ.
He was a member Of the Catholic church. but
unostentatious in his religion as he was in his
charities, which were many. About a week be-
fore he died he sent for Rev. L. L. Ducey of st.
Leo's church and said to him:
Il wish to be reconciled to my God through
my church 1 regret | have been so poor a
Catholic, but have never for an instant doubted
the teaching of the church."