Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-29
w. B. EATE.
The Brilliant Orator aud Pro
found Statesman.


N0oA o htAh9 haANNtos
1t is in our heart to say a few words
to day in behalf Of the gubernatorial
candidate Of the only true Democracy
represented in the pending canvass.
Nature bestowed upon General Will
liam B. Bate many gifts as an orator,
a beautiful fancy, a rich imagination,
a wonderful fuency, a graceful and
impressive d%elivery-all Of which be
has cultivated TO an eminent degree
and these, united to a Determinations
taste and q remarkably magnetic
power, have induced the political
enemies of our gallant standard bearer
to charge that be possesses no ability
and is simply AoWery and rhetorical,
but not logical or stronghold there is
nothing OF the statesman in him and
that he is incapable Of debating the
great issues Of the day. The truth is
that but for the tact that his brilliancy
is so fascinating there would have
been no man in the State more dis
tinguished for the SQUAD, sterling
qualities Of logical power than General
Bate. He not only has great analytical
capacity and extraordinary ability as
close, cogent ~reasOner, but can also
decorate and adorn the splendid
structure Of his massive intellect With
the most refined, finished and classical
ornamentstion. His C~orinthian col
umns are no less ~pOnderous and strorF
because Of their symmetry, ! and
beauty Of perfection. he can srrus
any question Of government or policy
with an ability equal to any nan
in the State, and can then en-
belhsh his Argument with an elo-
qusnee 20 grand, an imagination 50
gorgeous and fancy 50 deheste and
playful, and with tropes, figures and
imsgery 70 beWitchihg that the mat
tentITe Listener foreets his colossal
strength IN the inconeeiTable wealth
Of his genius. There is not q more
argumeutstive speaker in Tennessee
than General Bate. He is a terse.
Logical reasoner and one Of our best
debateTs Bis sssiduous application
at school as well as his experience as
lawyer and as q political debater were
calculated to develop and mature ms
logical powers. When suite young be
was elected Attorney General Of the
Nashville district, where he had to
encounter the first ability and legal
talent OF the State, aud he made the
best and ablest Attorney General
Nashville ever had. He was also on
the Democratic Electoral ticket be.
fore the war and won laurels from
every adversary he encountered. Since
the war he has devoted himself with
tireless industry to the practice Of
law, and has brought and won more
suits against railroads and other DOW.
erful and wealthy corporations than
any man in this State-and this Is
why railroads AMI monopolists dread
and oppose him. As these corpora
tons always employ the very best talent
that money can command, he has 10
these contests been compelled TO meet
the ablest, most learned, shrewd and
adroit members OF the bar, and he has
seldom lost a case, but almost iuyari-
bly, overwhelmed his adyersaries
General Bate j. not only a fine lawyer
but he can beat any attorney in tbe
State arguing facts. This is the opin.
ion OF such men as GeneralWm. Brieu
and Hal East, of the Nashville bar
We know that the Republicans and
over-zealous partisans OF j. E. Baile1
pretended that Mr.. PeLtibone wa,
ADLER in tie electoral cauva thar
General Bate, but the fallacy of thi,
empty boast was shown in the TACT tbal
Robert Taylor, an inexperienced youn,
man, utterly crushed and overwhelmed
Pettlbone. We need no stronger evi.
dence Of General Bates great abilit,
than his speech recently made a
glarksville. He and Senator Harris
Governor Marks and Hon John r
House ali spoke there. Every
body will admit that no Stat,
IN the Union can furnish three a,
able political speakers as Harris
Marks and House, and yet Genera.
Bates speech, only an HON
and a half in length, was UNIVERSAL,
admitted to be one Of the finest, ifno'
the best, that was made on that oecS.
sion. General Bate is not only a preai
lawyer and a fine political speaker. bu'
he s 3 statesman also. His knowlede,
OF the constitution and the laws a5e
Of political economy is thorough ant
profound. He has deeply studied M,
great principles Of our national AND
State governments, and no man more
comprehends the system and structurs
Of our institutions. We knew tbe
maxim orator fit" but nature did Sc
much for General Bate that oratory
seemed the very atmosphere hi
.breathed. The splendor that marked
his glorious military career as the
youth in the Mexican war, and the
man in the late wal, aud the chiyalry