Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-02-06
TWO HONEST DEMOCRATS"


Under this caption the National Re
view, Republican paper, edited BY
John J. Littleton, speaks Of the late
Hon. Jas. f. Bailey and Hon. Ed.
James, At the time OF Col. Bailey's
death the CHRoNIcLE reproduced all OF
the press comments concerning him
but failed to notice this one until re-
Gently. we now give it publication in
order to complete the list without all
endorsement OF all it contains:
"0ur readers will be surprised at the
heading of this article until they learn
that we refer to ex-senator James e.
Bailey and Hon. Eb. James. They
both, have died since our last issue.
Both were honest men and both mar
tyrs-political martyrs-to the same
cause. Judge Bailey served one term
in the United States Senate and took
high rank among the ablest and best
men OF that body.
His service was acceptable to the en-
tire country and no one could sustain
and adverse criticism OF his course.
But at the end Of his first term he was
retired For what' Because he took
the stump in opposition to the repudia-
ton of Tennessee's debt! He WAS not
time-seryer like Isham G. Harris and
hence he fell. He would not barter
his conscience for place. Political
ambition held no mortgage on his man
hood. He was not moral coward,
and instead of following the rabble
through the mire in darkness, he stood
immoyeably in the light and appealed
to the rabble to cast off passion and
stay with him on the granite founda-
ton OF eternal Right. He was spurned
by his party and would have been cru
Gifted had impious hands dared touch
man SO pure. He died an exile from
his party because he was an honest and
brave man, and his fate stands as a
warning to all other Democrats who as
pire to high position not to let con
science and ambition set acquainted,
nor commit the folly of daring to
speak the truth when the rabble clamor
for cursed lie.
Eb. James was man upon whose
genial side the light OF life was locussed.
His genius was like a diamond-clear
cut and sparkling. The dullest ray
reflected by it, was made bright. He
had but one policy-the Right. With
large soul and heart full of charity
for the personal faults OF men, he de
spised political demagogy, and could
not be silent in the face OF wrong.
Full OF ambition, he carried no price
on his honor. He could have had high
preterment years ago had his honest,
generous nature not revolted against
the terms upon which it was obtainable.
lie was tolerant OF any fault in men
except hypocrisy. Bold, honest and
brilliant he was also ahead OF the times,
and this generally kept him in a mi
nority. He WAS not Il profound
thinker, in the accepted. sense Of the
term, but Inc took the circumference o.
a great problem at a glance, and, assur-
ing himself OF the best means OF solving
it, he went to work blazing out tho
general way, leaving moro FESTIVE
minds to measure the intricacies and
work out the details lie served hi;
party faithfully and honestly for year,
and gave it character and respectabilit,
in his section. But be was too homes
to be a successful Democratic politician
in Tennessee. He and Bailey. though
quite different order of men, stood
shoulder to shoulder against repudia
ton through all the years OF the heated
contest over the debt question. The,
both advocated Wright in 1880. The,
both bolted and advocated RUSSELL il
1872. They both retired from polite
in the same year, and both died on th
same morning three years lator-Bnile.
at 7 and james at 10 o'clock Though
dead their memories will be living an;
honoied in Tennessee when the tim
servers who drove them from the aren
of politics will be forgotten forever
save to the worms that crawl in darl,
ness and feed on contaminated flesh.
THE CHRONICLE ABROAD.