The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-28
The Death OF william Rathbone.

1t is with deep regret that we make the
announcement of the death of WILLIAM
RATHBoNE, Esq, Of Liverpool, England,
which took place at his country residence
near that city on the lst instant. MIR.
RATHBoNE had becn connected commercially
with Charleston for moro than half CEN
fury, and, in this city, his name was the
synonym of all that is honest, upright, and
unswervingly true.
Virtues and noble qualities are not al
WAYS inherited, but WILLIAM RATHBoNE,
descended from families distinguished by
their henevolencA omd philanthropy. proved
himself by q lifetime of generous deeds to
be fully worthy of the high reputation of
those from whom he sprang. Nor were his
days wholly absorbed in the cares and am
billions of mercantile career. Graded in
times of political agitation, taught from his
earliest years to lisp the watchwords of
reform, he boldly entered the field of poll
tics and waged incessant war against every
form of tyranny and wrong.
It becomes us not, with the sad experience
of the present condition Of the South before
our eyes, to discuss the wisdom of that strug-
gle for the general abolition of slavery, in
which WILLIAM RATHBoNE bore an eminens
part. The man was earnest and sincere.
This was his yindication, and he did not
spend all his generous sympathies upon the
Indian or African slave. Strenuously did
he labor for the extension of the privilege
of political representation, and it was a
meet reward that one of the first uses made
of the municipal franchise by the enlarged
constituency of Liverpool, was to send VIII
LIAM RArHBoNE into the City Council and,
soon after, to raise him to the civic chair.
In religion Mr.. RATHBoNE was liberal
and tolerant. Strong in his own religious
feelings, he was anxious to secure for all
persons the most thorough religious free
dom and equality.
For fifty and nine years WILLIAM RATa-
BONE was the head Of the house of RATE
BONE, BROS. s. Co., but for several years
before his death he had altogether retired
from public and business life.
The house of which Mr.. WILLIAM RATH
BONE was the head was one Of the stoutest
pillars that supported the cotton trade of
Charleston. With one exception, all the
leading cotton firms in this city did business
with RATHBoNE, BROS. & Co., and Mr..
RArHBoNE himself was ever regarded as the
model of liberal, enlightened and fair
dealing man.
What more shall be said of him who, with
the SHOWS of eighty winters upon his brow,
has passed TO rest eternal? This man had
a full, warm heart, quick and ready
tongue, q matured and cultivated mind.
Eloquent in language, "thorough" in all he
did, practical in every word and act,
thoughtful in benevolence, sensitive to
every i'll that aflicts poor humanity-this
was WILLIAM RATHBoNE.
Charleston now, through her merchants,
exchanges o sad greeting with her traas-
Atlantic sister. Those who have suffered
belong to the brotherhood of those who
suffer still Our reverence for WILLIAM
RATHBoNE grew out of our knowledge
of what he did and did not do; it was
not even encouraged by the magic of his
presence or the fascination of his words.
Because he was an honest man our mer-
chants loved and trusted him, and now that
he is dead his memory shall be garnercd in
our hearts, with all our own dear ones, as
one whose name was honorable, whose es-
cutcheon was untarnished, whose death
was without fear, and whose life was
without blemish.
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