Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-10
MORE NEWSPAPERS.
Publications Which Have Had 8
Brief Existence in the District.
JOURNALISM IN WASHINGTON
Some Papers Whose VERY Names Are Strange
to Those of the Present Generation-Histo
OF Others That Are Simply Remembrance
Many Brilliant EditorA.


| Written for The Evening Star.
| CONTINUING THE HISTORY OF JOUR-
" nalism in Washington as prepared by Mr..
Henry Hardy, Iregret cannot find space for the
admirable comments accompanying the sketch
of each of the many newspaper enterprises which
found grave in this city.
In ls47 Mr.. James N. Davis and Columbus
Drew issued a tri-weekly journal the American.
Its success induced the proprietors to merge it
into daily but after some months it ceased to
exist. Mr. Davis was for some years an officer
in the general post Office and Mr.. Columbus
Drew was induced to take the editorial charge
Of the Jacksonville Republican, where he resided
for many years, enjoying to the highest degree
the respect and esteem of the residents Of that
state. His recent death was universally re-
GREETED
| Mr.. Jacob Gideon established the Battery. a
campaign paper, which contributed to the sue
cess of the whig party in the election
| of Gen. Taylor. The Republic. pub
lished by Mr.. George s. Gideon, was
| the organ of the Taylor administration. and was
first edited by Alex. C. Bullet of New Orleans
and Mr.. Burnley of Kentucky, the son-in-law Of
| Mr. Crittenden. John o. Sergeant and Mr..
VIM. ". Burwell were also on the editorial staff
| OF the Republic. Mr.. Burwell at the conclusion
| Of the war wrote a series of very able papers
on the condition Of the south for the National
Inteuigencer, and became afterward the editor
| OF De BO,r's Rerielc, having removed to New
Orleans. he subsequently held some official
position under the state Of Louisiana. where he
| died. Mr. q. Sheppard. formerly Of the Union
and afterward an editorial writer on the New
| York Times, was another of the valued con-
| tributors to the Repubic.
The CHRISTIAN Statesman. a journal devoted to
African colonization in the interest of Liberia,
! began in 1851 under the charge Of Rev. K. K.
Gurley and Mr.. Goodloe. The latter gentle
man also aided in the editorial department Of
| the National Era and was subsequently
| United States marshal OF North Carolina his
| native state The National Monument was
started in April, 1851, in aid Of the Washington
! monument and was conducted By Mr.. James
c. Pickett, who had been fourth auditor OF the
| treasury and charge d'affaires TO Peru Mr..
| Pickett was the father of Col. John T. Pickett
whose death some years ago left void in the
social life of Washington. In 1852 two weekly
| papers were started here and lived little
space. These were Shober & Canning cham y
| Saturday Mercury and Mr.. G. Baylor's Cotton
Plant, which WAS transferred to Baltimore.
\ SPICY AND POPULAR SHEET.
The Erening Telegraph was edited by Mr.
Thomas C. Connolly and was a very spicy and
popular sheet. 1t advocated the election Of
Gen. Scott. Gen. Duff Green was then in
| Washington and. it was said, contributed edi-
| torial matter to the Telegraph. With the defeat
OF Gen. Scott for the presidency the Telegraph
ceased to exist ard Mr.. Connolly was for some
years on the editorial staff of the National In
| teHigencer and for awhile edited the Baltimore
| Clipper. The Democratic Flagship was issued
in 1852 as q campaign paper by VIM. Greer an
| old and experienced printer. The Southern
| Press was established as an organ of the ex-
! treme southern party and expressed their Pc
| cuiar views In an able manner by Mr.. EllwOod
| Fisher, who was native of Ohio and resident
| OF Indiana. Mr.. Edward de Leon of South
| Carolina was an editorial writer on the same
| The Southern Press did not long survive and
| the Daily SNnt,nel. under the charge of Mr.
| Beverly Tucker, succeeded it. The editorial
| staff of the Sentinel was an able one Mr.
| Fisher was one Of its editorial writers and
Mr.. Craile, the friend and biographer of Mr.
Calhoun. and Mr.. William Maurice Smith.
| The Sentinel obtained the printing of the House
| for one session. but on the departure of Mr.
| Tucker for Liverpool as Z. S. consul the Senti-
| mel ceased to exist. In the days of know
nottingham the Natire american Organ repre-
| sented the views Of that party. under the
| editorial control Of Mr.. Vespasiah Ellis For
awhile it was very successful, but on the cleo
ton OF Mr.. Buchanan it dropped ont of exist
ence. The establishment Of the States and
Union by Mr.. John p. Heiss, and Mr.. Arnold
Harris as the financial hacker, was understood
to be the organ OF states rights and that party
in the democratic party supported by Mr.
Douglass. Mr.. Roger A. Pryor was one Of the
| editors Of the States and JniOn and here Henry
Watterson began his editorial career. Mr.
| Pryor retired from the editorial control and
Mr.. John Savage succeeded him and remained
In that position until the fall of Sumter.
THE GLOBE AND ITS CHANGES.
After Mr.. Kendall had retired from the editor
ship Of the Globe in 1910 that paper was con-
tinued under the management Of Mr.. Francis
p Blair, with assistance from such able editorial
| writer's as Edmund Burke of New HAMPSHIRE
Mr.. Jesse Z. Dow and Others Mr.. Blair desired
to retire into private life. which he did, and
could not be tempted to leave it though
soilclted to do So and offers of foreign appoint
ments and exalted official positions were
rendered him. On the retirement of MIR. Blair
Mr.. Thomas Richie of the Richmond Enquire,
and MIR. John p. HESS of Nashville a personal
and political friend of President Polk. formed
partnership. and purchased the Globe
| establishment. but not the name. That Messrs
Blair Il Rives refused to sell, The title of the
paper was therefore changed to the Union
MIR. Heiss retained his interest in the Union
about four years, or till the election of Gen
Taylor. when his partner bought him out and
Mr.. Richie became sole proprietor till the cleo
ton Of Mr.. Buchanan. when Mr.. Richie re-
| tired and yielded the ownership into the hands
| Of Mr.. Andrew jackson Donaldson and Gen
Robert Armstrong. both Of Tennessee. the lat
ter one of Gen. Jackson's aids at New Orleans
During hr. Ritchie's editorship he had the
editorial assistance of such able writer's as the
Hon. Andrew Stevenson and VIM. NJ. Overton
| Of Virginia. Ovid johnston and John w. For
ney of Pennsy lvania and Edmund Burke.
| Armstrong and Donaldson continued the pub
LEGATION of the Cnioa, when, for some rea-
son, MIR. Donaldson retired. leaving Gen. Arm
| strong sole proprietor. and he made printer
| TO both houses OF Congress Gen. Pryor be-
| came one OF the editors. An article written BY
Gen. Pryor on Russia contained matter objec-
tionable to that country and complaint was
made to the State Department and Mr.. Pryor
| was sent as minister to Greece.
Mr.. A. o. P. Nicholson became editor Of the
Union, and with the aid Of Mr.. Charles Eames
Of this city conducted the paper until the
death Of Gen. Armstrong, when Messrs. Mich
olson and Eames purchased the Union. Mr..
Nicholson was elected public printer. but hav-
ing been elected to the United States Senate he
disposed Of the Union to Mr.. Cornelius Wen
deli. Through the influence Of MIR. Buchanan
| Mr.. John Appleton of Maine. who had been Mr.
Buchanan's secretary Of legation, was made
editor, while Col. Simeon johnson continued
to write for its columns until appointed consul
to Bordeaux.
AN IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION.
Col. johnson was in no immediate hurry TO
leave for that post Of duty, and some months
after his appointment he met Mr.. Buchanan at
the railroad depot in this city and advanced to
shake hands, when Mr.. Buchanan said to him:
Il appointed you consul to bordeaux some
months ago. Why are you not at your post!
You should either perform your duty OF
| raaion