The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1885-05-08
and gldamed forth brightest flashes q

4
luminous and Illuminating thought
The following year Haskell was
turned from his county Madison a
= representative in the Tennessee Leg
: iature. In the memorable camDaij
OF 1914, the most holly con tested
the history of Tennessee, Haskell W
placed upon the electoral ticket,
behalf of the sage of Ashland. +
was in his glory, for he entertain'
the most enthusiastic admiration f
} Mr.. Clay. He canvassed the eutil
State and earnestly and eloquent
discussed and defended the grei
measures of the Wing party. The
sues were vast and all-absorbing ali
called forth the highest efforts of h
intellect; and well and ably did b
discuss them, winning for himse
| wherever he appeared, golden opiL
ions and Statewide reputation. Ii
| soon took his position in the from
rank of Tennessee Orators-and at ths
| time few States in the Union cOul
| present finer array of speaking tai
ent on either side of the political issue
then involved. His efforts were simp
| ~ grand whether regarded ia ihei
ez;caf rescatatioR, their Veiie6ief.
defamation, their inimitahle wit
| their bitter irony, whitening sarcasm
| or bold and astonishing flights of ora
tory. He combined all these in a con
summate degree. He swayed thu
multitude as with the wand of a ma
gician. His logic seemed or fire ant
bore everything before il, like tht
rushing sweep of some mighty river
fed by swollen tributaries. His power
over vast crowds, to move them a
will, was immeEse-noW melting &c
tears, now cOnvulsing with laughter
now filing them with wild, unbocnI-
ed enthusiasm, manifested in burst after
burst of applause. At times he seemed
almost inspired, drawing to him the
enthuseC, entranced mass and iGfus-
ing into them the same passion and
fire, that kindled and shook his own
soul. As the sea of faces bent forward
spel!-bnund, with parted lips and
eager eyes, imprisoned looks and
bafed breath, he swayed them as the
west wind bends the ripenipg grain.
On these occasions, his elOquenCe was
earnest, impetuOus, convincing, ire
Sistible:
"His words ereIike a wheel of fire
Rolling aud burning his way now,
now that,
and his flexible voice, deep
tened, sOuorous 5nd thunder-like,
rolled and reveTberated, giving
body and form to the flashing
thought SO the thunder peal follows
the electric flash. His name hence
forward became the watchwOrd Of the
Wing party in Tennessee, while he
became to them "a tower Of strength,
ia every succ, eding poll zeal contest.
Like the followers Of Henry of Ma
var &, they watched AID followed in
the wake 81 Lis lofty plume with a
ftiti' of coming victory.
IN Tire war with Mexico he WAS Coz
Onel at i VoUuiter regiment Of lufant-
~. atti -sTVed ni- country IN that ca
Ilaciiy with galIaBtry and distinction;
and upon iiiS return in the ioIiO iui
year, ~as elected to Congress, where
NJ served one term. He did rot pre-
election. His name aud fame as al
'Tatnr Deye 10y 10 means confined
Wi-hiu the limits of his native State,
."r in the Presidential campaign d
1915 he bore Tie banner Of Gen. Tay-
or through the canvass in severa.
1tlIeF States Of fhe Union. AGAIN ia
So he oOlS the field for Gel. Scott
md IRE ringing tones Of bis claTior
fflls sss.st heard lt-f.siossssissf n !
) rtiprSo f tie ; ate. As well a. the
writer ftmenioers, be made his last
ppc'tFtbce as & popular, political de |
,attT iH the inter, st IF Mr.. Fillmore. |
$ lac y hig candidate for the Fresi- |
eIlcN ~ 1850 - that 'Gr about six
en years, ne was prominently before
!. T. Iitupe of hiS native state, as one Oi
or leading and most distinguished
ratOrs.
Il IS proper mere Ia -tute that his
Professional career was not marked
'ith success. Indie I'll he stems to
ave had'uO heart for The dull, dry and
rosy details f the Law. He imbibed
az cary age Il taste Tor politics: ana
20 excitement rf the ujI7iIngs, 20
lugehiai with hIs ardent, impuIsivo
:4ij;r,', together with Tie vide field IL |
.sC!Ds, Il for lhr display OF his eaIly
ASSIGN, UraiCry, seemed To have de
rUyed al taste for tie tanner and
.Oft q4.et pursuit of his legal studies.
I-uct. when he turned rom the pOiIti-
Il are ma Ia The forum, be Was dis8p.
DiDted. The field seemed too narrow
nd contTacted-the theatcr too small,
n The. play Of bis genius and theeXer-
So OfhiS gifts. Tie consequence was,
: ii always must be in such cases, a
.i.uTe. The law is a hard task-mas-
J, or, as one of the old law writers,
substance has said, tie law is jeal-
Is mistress, eXacting ia her demands |
ld claiming tire undivided attention |
her s,IitOr. II is certain there is no
)yal road to the temple of a legal
me; it is only to be reached 10y pro-
uud, continuous ard perseveTiUg
udy and application. Tire lame of
ereral Haskell does not rest upon his
ga attaiuments, thOugh.there is little
uestiDn that his career as a jurist |
Ould have been marked with equal
1ility and distinction, had he deVOt-
1 himself with the same zeal and
to its study and practice. Ii
lreiy happens, hOWever,tO mOrtals to
2 great in more than one pursuit.
In some respects it WAS unfortunate {
II him that he did not choose and
cave TO the Jaw, even though he hau
plod along its dull and dusty way,
II would have, most surely, yielded
i'm handsome maintenance, if not
fortune. As il was, gold had no at
notions for hitn-he seemed to have
total indifference to, il not a con-
, |
nd the result was a painful struggle ,
, get the wants and urgent necessi-
e. of d growing family.
But, in another respect, it may be
,gardod as still more unfortunate.
S has been already stated, he was for
lany wears known all over the State
, the champion Of Whiggery, fore
,ost in the fray" and ready 1T all
mes, to cross lances with the bold
= Knight that dared TO enter the
-tS. Under these circumstances, it
as natural THAI he should be toasted,
aStet and titted whenever and 1
hercevCr he went, 70 address the
iiset : Of his frIlO8~citizens. Genius |
as its iDfirmi!ios and foibles-and
ne moi uncommon TO gifted natures,
the tendency to indulge to excess in
.tOSicating stimDlaDts. Gen. Has {
ELI Welded to the temptation, until ,
10 habit, always perniciOus and Of /
q. TuinOus, was formed; and at the z
stance and solicitation Cf his VAIN
1 friends ne resolved 10 refOTm and Z
= for while reform and free him ,
If iroJl The power of the tempteT, il y
gain returned end Iivcted upon him r
iosp irtte:s, from which he had 10
niger power to free himself. Then
me darkness ard glOOm-a shadow
II acrCss 'he pathway OF his life. The
Orniug 81 his CXistt nee had been /
i"bt Dnd uncIouded md the noon )
ie o; iis manhood bad been one of L
most unparalleled splt ndOi; tut now 1
ick clouds were gathering on the IL