The evening world., 1902-05-21

"A cable despatch from London an
nounces that Edwin Lawrence God
kin, formerly editor of the New York
Evening Post and the Nation. died
last night in England.
The news was not unexpected. Mr..
Godkin had been in failing health for
five years, particularly since his re-
tirement from the Evening Post in
November, 1899. He sailed for Eu-
rope several months ago, and his
friends had little hope of aver :ng
him again in the United States.
Mr.. Godkin was the oldest editor
connected with the New York press
at the time of his retirement, and
probably the most noted. He ranks
with the great editors of the United
States; withal he was one of the
most unpopular OF men. In intellec-
tual force, mastery Of style and cour-
ageous vlgor he had no equal after
the death of Horace Greeley. 1t was
characteristic Of him to run counter
to public opinion. but even his nu-
merous enemies could not fail to re-
spect the motives that actuated him.
For more than two score years Mr..
Godkin wrote editorials in this city. A
great majority were editorials OF criti-
cism. he had a genius for criticism.
He could pick out more material for
fault-findinG purposes than any one in
journalism.
In consequence his life was more or
less strenuous and when the collapse Of
his physical powers came there were
few TO help him build himself up He
had been forgotten until the news Of his
death came to-day.
Taciturn and Solemn.
Born in Moyne. Ireland. on Oct. 2.
1881. Edwin Lawrence Godkin showed
aptitude as a scholar at an early age.
He was sent to college at a period Of
existence In which the ordinary boy
Is trying to master the rudiments of
education, and was graduated at Queens
College. Belfast, In 1851. He vas moi
immensely popular at college. Besides
coming from English stock he was tact
turn and solemn, qualities not admired
by his Celtic classmates.
Immediately upon leaving school Mr..
Godkin attached himself to the stan of
the London Daily News. He served as
correspondent OF that newspaper In the
Crimean War. achieving a reputation
with his first letter from the front, In
1856, as correspondent of the Daily News,
he came to this country n made a
horseback tour Of the Southern States.
sending his newspaper frequent and
pungent letters upon the slavery ques-
ton. Even at that early age he be-
came involved In bitter controversy with
men of authority In the Government, and
some OF the quarrels he engendered In
those days continued for many years
with undated bitterness.
The coming of 1859 found Mr., Godkin
In New York studying law, He was ad-
mitted to the bar In .that year, and
practised for three years, when he
again allied himself with the Daily
News as the New York correspondent
OF that newspaper, At the same time
he wrote editorials for the New York
Times.
Editor In 'O5.
In the early spring of 1866 Mr.. Godkin.
feeling that he had reached a position
that should allow him more chance for
independent expression, began TO cast
about for an opportunity. He interested
Charles Eliot Norton and j. Miller Nc
Kim In a project to establish a weekly
independent paper. Tit agreement was
that Mr.. Godkip was to be made editor
OF the new paper IL he would raise one
fourth OF the capital necessary to etart
II. Under this agreement the Nation
was born.
Always Had HIS own Way.
The independence of the editor OF the
new publication. his contempt for opin-
ions he did not share, and his tendency
TO ride rough shod. over the desires OF
his associates created great, dissailsiaC-
ton. The stockholders fought him tooth