Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-08
The Late Col W. ]. Thompson and
His C0nfrereS,

In speaking of the death of Colonel W. t.
Thompson. late editor of the Savannah MORN
ING NEWS. the Gainesville Free Press says
over thirty-three years ago the writer OF
this humble tribute came to the press. In
casting our eyes back we can think OF but few
who were our con freTeS and are still vet so.
These We can hurriedly think OF were John I.
Martin. of the Rome Courier. }. I. Whitman,
of the Dalton Citizen. c. w. Hancock. OF the
Sumter Republican, and Rev. Joshua Knowles,
of the Greensboro Journal. Only five of US
remain as wen as we can remember. Christy
and Lumpkin sleep in the bosom of classic
Athens soil they loved so well Simri Rose re-
poses in the beautiful cemetery Of Rose Hill,
which he did so much to adorn; Colonel G. X.
Hanleiter. of the NqtiOHot american, broken ia
fortune by the results OF the war, IS now seek
ing, IN his old age. the means OF living in the
government printing Office in Washington city;
and Joseph CiiSby has retired from journalism
after a long service in the editorial harness.
OF the five of MS now in editorial life, who
began our labOrs over thirty three years ago,
Mr. Martin, of the Rome Courier. is the oldest.
These six have held their connection with the
press. unremittingIy, for all these years. Our
careers began before the clouds of war over
Swallowed this fair aud gOodly land of ours,
and when the sunlight OF happiness and pros
perity frightened the homes of our beloved
burst forth in terrific fury and crimson
our soil with the blood of the
truest and most chivalric people in
the world. carrying desolation to our fire
SlueS. ana our mothers. wives. SISTERS ana
daughters robed in the habiliments of mourn
ing for their beloved dead. All stood true to
what they believed was right in the defense of
the lost cause But none were truer or
drawer than our late deceased brother Thomp-
son, nor more self. sacrifciug-and none more
earnest or conscientious in the discharge of
every duty. Firm and decided in action, he
was as tender as a woman in his love for his
fellow-man. There was an attraction on his
part, and an attachment for his friends. that
drew every warm and honest heart TO him as
If by magic There was such simplicity in his
manners, always marked by the highest gen
tility, that it was ever pleasure to be in his
presence"
Reproducing the above. the Dalton Citizen
says: I'VE knew Colonel Thompson as far back
as lS46-we were then youth of some fifteen
years. He was at that time editor of the Madi-
son Miscellany, paper of considerable literary
merit in those early days He wrote the series
OF letters known as Major Jones' Courtship'
while editing this paper. work which has
charmed and amused so many thousands, and
which to-day stands without a rival as the fresh
est and most entertaining book OF American
humor ever published. Athens. Georgia, was
then (1S46) our home and We met Col Thompson
frequently at that time, and often since
and we can bear testimony to the truth of all
that Bro. Willingham says Of him. We never
knew man with nobler. tendeF6r impulses
nor one whose whole life exemplided more
fully every characteristic that goes to make a
true manhood. He was our ideal of a pure
journalist. and for this we admired him great
". His editorials no matter upon what sub
ject, were always chaste and written in the
most faultleSs English. No editors opin-
ion in the State, upon questions of
political importance, was more respected
than his. In a word, he was a grand edi-
tor-one of the ablest, if not me ablest.
in the South, and his wise counselS will be sad
ly missed-eSpecialy by the Democratic party.
of which he was faithful exponent, and TO
which be remained as true as steel to the day
of his death The death of no one, not related
TG - n c4r1c 1fF1frz Tod
it caused us to stop aud thnk-to retrospect
cur editorial life, which we found to be thirty
five years If at its cl0se-if when the sum
mons comes to US to quit this world-we are
found as ready to 90 as was the lamented
Thompson, we shall be satisfied for he died in
the full posses ion Of all his faculties with the
Christians hope of a Eiss2ul Immortality"