Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-08-13
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looked for news of the death of William
n. Croasdale. the founder of EVERY |
EVENING, the most gifted editorial
writer Delaware ever produced and as
true and whole-h hearted man as any
one could wish to call friend. True as
steel 10 those whom he honored with
his friendship and confidence, he asked
no quarter from those with whom his
strong convictions brought him into an
tagonism. There never was any room
for doubt as to where he stood. He was
ca1in that grand manly mold which
nkde him incapable of any vestige of
assimilation. He was always earnest to
stand for the right, as he saw the right,
and there when he had once planted
himself, he would stay, uncompromis-
ing and indomitable, though he stood
alone. To him the right was to be pur-
sued for its own sake and to be upheld
and battled for with all the force of his
vigorous mentality. 1t would be a work
of supererogation to pile up mere words
of tribute to this sterling and peerless
honesty Of him who has gone in COM
munity where he was so well known.
The pages of EVERY EVENING, the
journal that he founded, that he built
up and that mirrored his thoughts for
eleven years, are the best monument to
his memory.
1t is with melancholy interest that we
turn to-day to the first issue OF EVERY
EVENING and read Mr.. Croasdale's
opening greeting to the people of Della
ware through the editorial columns of
the journal that his energy and genius
gave to this community and into which
he put SO much of himself during the
years he remained at its head He said
in, that opening Issue.
EVERY EVENING will be an entirely non
partisan paper, representing and advoeat-
ing the interest of the whole people rather
than those of a fraction OF the community,
publishing, however as fully AS may he,
accurate and impartial reports of the
doings Of both political parties. 1t will be
vehicle Of news rather than an organ OF
opinion; though il will never he found
without decided views courteollsv e.
pressed on all subjects touching thcgrowth
and welfare of our State. Here, however,
as in matters strictly political, its editors
Will evince tier respect for the calm
Judgment of wel-inforined people Nv
70, /. Ia
facts 70 enable it TO judge, rather than at
tempting to furnish judgments ready made
Tor its acceptance.
How well he kept to the path he had
marked out aud how quickly he made
his paper IL power in journalism, u
journal whose fame soon spread beyond
the confines of this Peninsula and whose
editorial utterances commanded respect
and attention from the great dalics Of
the large cities need not be told here.
He put brains, energy, enterprise, GO
aheaditiveness into every department Of
his new venture. He set in with the
the determination to give WILMINGTON
live newspaper and he succeeded. He
put his best work, the best part Of his
life, into making EVERY EVENING 4
daily newspaper that should be credit
to the city and the State, and he did this
with o completeness that few other men
could have done. 1t is with unspeak-
able sorrow that EVERY EVENING
learns of the death, in the prime and
vigor of full manhood, of the man to
whose brilliant personality and tireless
intensity OF purpose it owes its incep-
ton and the phenomenal growth of ils
earlier years. The highest achievement
we can keep in view is 10 live up to tile
example he has set us and to try To
maintain the standard Of self-respectiag
independence to which the gifted
founder Of this paper adhered during
his connection with it.
Perhaps we could not close this
ribute to the memory Of Mr.. Croasdale
more fittingly than by quoting from the
editorial columns Of the New YORK
World the following impartial ac-
Acknowledgement Of the position lie had
won in the journalism Of Americas
leading city;
William r. Croasdale, whose sudden
and unIimcly death is recorded ia another
column, was man Of great courage wins
followed his ideals regardless If material
consequences TO himself. He was first of
all in the truest sense of the Wetd e
democrat. His faith in those of wuom
Abraham Lincoln delighted to speak Is
the plain people was intense. Whatever
the opinion his friends. aud he had many
and warm ones, may have entertained 6s
his views, all will acknowledge thai thay
were sincera and that he ahured wiih Il
large measure of gnseltishness for thr
success of Mhai he regarded as the hest
interests Of struggling humanity. IL wus
vigorous writer and speaker. His t6sp,Y.
uphill fight in his congressional calnIt ueIl
in this ctty year ngo was an event Ill nc
politics of the city. From devoted fol-
i lower and supporter Of cx-raerotary ljavarl
he grew iuto an ahsollit. eetra.ier. i
single tax man and leading disciple III
Henry George. But il is as a brave and
sntcpenieut man that lis fficuis will