Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-22
FIFTY YEARS AGO IN THE STAR

the chain Of defense. around wash
tngton during the war"
President Grant sought to undd
several OF the acts Of his predecessor
upon entering the White
Revolving q House. One of these was
p the pardon OF Moses
oon' Depew. which Gen Grant
undertook TO revoke The right Of
the chief executive to cancel a par
don already granted was questioned.
The Star of June IS. 1869. thus COM
ments on the decision rendered in the
case.
I'm the matter OF the pardon issued
to Moses Depew by President John
son, which was afterward revoked by
President Grant. Judge Blatchford OF
the United States district court at
New York decided Saturday last
against the discharge of the pr.S-
oner. on the ground that n pardot
is not complete until IL has beed
delivered, and, as the presidential
office never dies. President Grant had
perfect right to recall pardon
issued by his predecessor. If it had
not been completed.
That this Is sound law will per-
haps not be denied; yet somehow the
conclusion arrived at seems to he
treading on very dangerous ground.
Decisions based upon purely tsahn.-
cal points, and in which political cua-
siderations are possibly not wholly
lost sight of, are too apt TO return
at some unfortunate time to plague
the inventor. At the very best Judge
Blatchford's decision in this case
while It would seem to recognize and
establish them. really has the effect
of ignoring and striking at the con-
tinuity and stability Of our govern
ment. If one administration may set
aside at will the acts OF its predeces-
sor We are but little way this S.ss
of anarchy.
During the late spring Of 1869 -
furry was caused In this country by
report that
France and Eng
No Anglo-French land were about
Combination. go go - ~.
United States. growing out of dissat-
isfaction with the course of this gov
eminent in the matter OF the Alabama
claims and the Mexican imbroglio.
This report was not taken seriously.
however. by those in authority. In
The Star OF June II, 1869 is note
explanatory of the origin of the ru-
NOR:
The reported anti-American alii-
ance between France and England, of
course. is secuted on both sides of
the channel as a thing having no ex
istence or probability. 1t seems.
however, that the report had this
basis or origin: There have been
good many subordinate members of
the British parliament and govern
ment in Paris during the Whitsuntide
recess and one of these. a MIR. Otway.
was either introduced to or permitted
to ascertain the opinion of the
French government on the Alabama
affair and what view 1T took Of the
matter, chiefly as an international
question and a point of international
law. Very likely the motive of the
action may have been to be able, X
the inquiry were probable, to quote
French legal opinion as agreeing with
English on the subject and to be able
to state as much to Mr.. Motley il the
questions were preached anew by
him on his arrival in England. But
nothing more than this was thought
Of or attempted; nor was any ALI
anCe projected OF pTOpOSe0, SIMPLY
because it was known that any such
proposition must be at once impos-
sible and ridiculous"
81 ,--.
The death of Henry J. Raymond.
editor of the New York Times. oc-
~ CURED in New York
Death of Henry on the isth of June,
80. 1859, and was an
- 1"o' nounced in The Star
of that date. The Star paid a tribute
to Mr.. Raymond editorially as one OF
the foremost of American journalists.
He .esta blished the New York Times
in 1851 and conducted 1T to the
time of his death, making of ii an
eminently successful newspaper and
an influential organ. Mr.. Raymond
was only in his fftieth year when he