Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-14
THE FOURTH ESTATE.
Sketch OF Patrick Walsh, of the Au-
gusta Chronicle and Constitutions
aIist.


aIist.
DGrien Timber Gazette
Patrick Walsh was born in Ballingary,
county of Limerick, Ireland, on Janu-
ary 1st, 1910. With his father and fam.
lily, he moved to America, arriving at
Charleston, South Carolina, in 1859.
AT the age of 13 years he was appren-
ticed to the Courier Office to learn the
typos trade. At 18 he became Jour
neyman printer, after which he pursued
his studies in the Charleston High
School; in the afternoon and evening
setting type in the Office of the Southern
Christian Ado0cGte. In 1859 he went
to Georgetown College, District
of Columbia. where he re-
mained until South Carolina
in the following year, seeded from the
Union. Returning to Charleston, Mr.
Walsh entered the Confederate service.
in full sympathy with the cause of his
State and of his adopted country. He
Joined the Meagher Guard, attached 10
Rifle Militia, then performing duty on
Sullivan's Island. After the lombard.
ment of Fort Sumter the name of the
Light Infantry" in which he served
with the rank of Lieutenant until
the company and regiment were dis
banded. Removing shortly afterwards to
Augusta, Ga. Mr.. Walsh felt the need of
continuing the work which the war had
seriously interrupted. His father and
mother were largely dependent upon his
efforts, as were his brothers in the army
needing all the assistance he could give.
He entered the Office of the Daily C0nst
tutt0r0ttSt, working at the case, begin
ming the profession of journalism ike
Bayard Taylor and Horace Greeley,
equipped with practical knowledge of
its details, and trained in the rudiments
of the vocation. Working his way up
In the office by steady skill and unfiag.
ging spirit, he became, in January 1858,
the local editor of the C0ttstttutiondItst-
filling in turn every department in the
conduct of then the most intluen-
tial journal in the South. He contribut-
ed largely to the news and editorial
columns of the paper, and assisted in
shaping its policy during those eventful
days. In 1854 Mr.. Walsh became asso-
ciated with Mr.. l.. T. Blome in the pub.
lication of the PucifcGtor, which was a
weekly paper of extensive circulation
through the South; he was also one of
the editors and proprietors of the Ban.
Ter Of the South, to which Father Ryan
contributed so much of poetic patriotism
and wise counsel. Continuing with the
ConststuttonGIist, however, Mr.. Walsh
became in 1856 Southern agent Of the
New York Associated Press, which had
supplanted the old Confederate Asso-
ciated Press. The former organization,
formed by the cooperation of the five |
great dailies of New York city, extend |
ed their telegraphic news service over
the Western Union wires through
out the South Atlantic and Gulf |
States. Mr.. Walsh was made
Superintendent of the Southern division,
with several States in his jurisdiction, |
and has confined to be valued aid of
MIR. j. w. Simonton, the General Agent |
at New York Mr. Walsh's manage
ment of his department of this great |
news service has been liberal and enter
prising, and he has been In the front |
rank of those who are increasing the |
quantity and improving the quality of |
the telegraphic news and commercial |
columns of our daily papers. In |
1857 Mr.. Walsh became business
manager of the Chronicle and Sentinel of |
Augusta, then published and edited |
by Messrs. Henry Moore and General |
A. r. Wright. Upon the death, in |
December. 1872, of the lamented |
General Wright, he formed partner
ship with the gifted Henry Gregg |
Wright, the Generals son, and pur-
chased the Chronicle and Sentinel The
undertaking was plucky one; but |
these hard-working and well trained |
young men maintained journal which |
surpassed the former record of that old |
and popular paper. Such a display of |
skill, ability and determination has sell |
dam been manifested in Georgia journal |
Ism. The sympathy of the public, how
eyer, was theirs. Their subscription |
lists grew and their influence widened.
In five years their paper paid for itself |
out of its own earnings. its reputation |
was established and its stability insured. |
So strongly had the Chronicle and Sen
tiBeE been built up that in the |
early part of 1877 Messrs. Walsh |
d Wright had an offer from |
the proprietors of the C0pstitutiO7a0Etst |
to consolidate, which was accepted. In |
March, 1877, the consolidation of the |
Chronicle and C0nstGtutionGlGst was
effected, and Messrs. Walsh s. Wright |
continued sole editors and managers |
Mr.. Walsh thoroughly possessed the /
confidence and admiration of his younger
partner To him the latter looked for
advice upon questions Of policy and pro-
priety in conducting the editorial col
umns, and between the two no differences
upon important questions ever appeared. |
OF strong convictions and indomitable /
will, the counsel of his senior partner
was always accepted by the brilliant
Wright, whose writings have marked an
era in Georgia journalism. Mr..
Walsh's particular department for the
past ten years has been in the
counting room, where his prudence.
Judgment, and financial management
have shown themselves. Practically &C.
quainted with every department of the
paper, he is not only trained journal
list, but successful manager. When he
writes it is with bold, vigorous pen.
His style is remarkable for its clearness
and force, His sentences are short and
cleanly cut; his ideas are well expressed:
and his conclusions are unmistakable
and irresistible. Probably the best dis
play of his earnestness and power as a
writer was in the campaign of 1876
when he advocated, among the first,
the nomination of a stright-out ticket in
South Carolina. Always widely read
and extensively circulated in the Pal
metto State, the Chronicles advice added
great weight to the opinions of states
men and to the feelings of the people.
Mr. Walsh devoted column after column
of his own vivid and persuasive writing
to the cause of the redemption of his old |
adopted State, aud his editorials were /
read all over Carolina He took the /
stump in some places during the Hamp-d
ton campaign, and assisted in the victory
which followed.
Mr.. Walsh has occupied several public {
Offices. In 1877 Hs71 he was elected I
q member of . Council Of Au- I
gusta, and y OHtled with impor. |