Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-21
Two Brilliant Editors.


most prominent characters in Georgia
during the reconstruction period. One,
Henry 5. Fitch, was a lawyer. He died
years ago in his prime. The other, +. ).
Fitch, was for years the editor of the
Griffin StGr. Like the other, he died in
middle age, his death occurring a few
days ago. Both were fearless. brilliant,
conViVial men. Their worst foe was joan
BarleycOrn, and he downed them at last.
Editor Fitch was TO tae press of Georgia
what sam Jones is to the pulpit. Origin
ally from Vermont, he had long been
Identified with the South. When Georgia
was under military rule Fitch made his
little Griffin star red-hOt. He didn't care
cent what he wrote, and was equally
reckless in his speech. His screeds and
TRADES against Radical rule frightened
timid Democrats and dumb-tounded those
In power. The Star was quoted from one
end OF the State to the other. Five hum
dred copies circulated here in Atlanta.
Sometimes Fitch would come up 10 At
lanta and speak at Democratic meeting.
Most OF our speakers were rather guarded
in their utterances in those days. A
Democratic meeting in '67 and '6S was a
very solemn affair. Some good citizens
were afraid to attend. The presence of
soldiers and Gen. Pope's Judge Advocate
was not calculated 20 inspire eloquence.
But these depressing surroundings had no
effect upon Fitch, except to make him
boil over with indignation. He would
stand up and shake his list at the mill
tary, and abuse them Tor an hour, to the
intense delight of his unreconstructed
audience. One night he deted Gen. Pope
and his miniOns to suppress HIM. In a
frenzy OF eloquent rage he faced the
Federal spies and soldiers who were at
the meeting, as usual, and yelled:
You may shed my blood, but by Cd
you can't dilute lt'
Such was the temper OF the times that
this was considered rhetorical gem OF
the first water. Men cheered until they
were hoarse, and this queer boast became
one OF the war cries of the campaign.
All through the reconstruction struggle
Fitch continued at white heat. His edI-
tOrlals were sometimes coarse and savage,
but they were full of pith and point and
suited an outraged people far better than
essays in the style OF Macaulay. His
tongue was as ready and fully as rough as
his pen.
sometimes the EDITORS fiery temper
would get him into trouble with clever
men. During a session of the Bullock
Legislature the statesmen were astOunded
and alarmed TO see one of the reporters
tables in front Of the Speakers stand sud
| denly turned over. There was an un.
earthly bowling and swearing, and per-
| feet cloud of dust rising from the floor.
Some thought it an earthquake, and others
were satisfied that the capitol was tum.
| bling down, but it was soon discovered
that the rumpus was Occasioned by a fight
! between Fitch and newspaper CORE.
spOndent. The two Journalists were
pulled out from under tine table, but not
before the din had caused the House to ad.
jOurn.
Another time Fitch insulted DR.. Sam
| Bard at press banquet The doctor was
a fighting man, but he was also cool and
dignifed. On this occasion he ignored
| Fitch's insults so serenely and made him.
self so agreeable to the crowd that every.
| body sided with him, and Fitch, who was
at heart the best OF fellows, regretted his
impulsiveness and FASTENED to make the
proper amende.
He was a magnetic man. Once when
he attended Democratic convention in
Baltimore he mounted barrel i'll the sa-
loon OF hotel, and commenced a stump
/ speech that at once won the crowd. He
| finished by distributing copies of the
! Star, ana in half an hour took in 5000 in
cash subscriptions.
For years past Fitch had lived on his
| plantation, near Harpersville, Ala
/ Gradually he grew less eccentric. He be.
| came a convert to the Christian religion
and when he died the other day, a victim
| to consumption, there were many to
mourn his untimely departure. Peace tC
| his ashes.
The other Fitch, Henry S., was son Of
| United States Senator Fitch, Of Indiana
| He was an officer under Sherman, and
after the march to the sea, opened Law
office in Savannah. He was brilliant
| brainy man, speaking like ChOate anC
writing like Junius. The Democracy
| gladly welcomed this able recruit, and
for a while he waged a merciless warfare
/ upon Radicals and carpet-baggers. When
be made speech it fairly glittered with
| epigrams and points. Describing Bradley
a treckled-faced mulatto Republican
leader, who boosted that he was born in
| south Carolina and educated In Boston,
/ Fitch said:
"And now we come to that speckled
whelp, Uttered in South Carolina and
| kenneled in New England; the bastard
Of the cavalier. the disgraced apprentice
of the Puritanw
Under Andrew Johnson, Fitch was APP.
| pointed United States District Attorney
He made fairly good official, but his
drinking habits and his interest in politics
naturally interfered with his usefulness
The lawyers IN Savannah and Atlanta
stuck to Fitch TO the last. They knew
him to be big-hearted, eloquent, schoI.
arly man, and his faults they set down az
MS misfOrtunes. But there was no saving
MIN. The strong constitution was
wrecked. The bright intellect flickered
| out. The gifted man, who might have
adorned the bench or led a listening
Senate, has now slept beneath the sod for
many year. Another blighted life, an
M a WI lfn a.