The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The Death Of an Infidel Editor.

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal;
William Shreve Bailey the venerable editor
of the Liberal, of Nashville, Tenn, is dead He
breathed his last on the evening of Feb. 90 of
pneumonia, after an illness of three days. at the
ripe old age of four score years and ten days
He was an infdel He died without prayer. a
single remorse. or word of repentance He
said to his children and friends around his bed
side during his last moments. 81 am dying
Think not that fear death; do not. 1t is to
me one eternal rest now die, as I have lived.
ON infidelv
William S. Bailey was in mauy ways a very
remarkable man. He was educated for the
Christian ministry, but soon relinquished that
calling and entered heart and soul into the cause
of infdelity. He was indeed one of the pioneers
of liberalism in America He was a man of strong
convictions and ever dared to defend them regard
less of even death itself. He was before the war
an aboltionist, and warm and most devoted
friend of the colored man. He was an editor from
the year 1851, up to the time of his death His
first paper was the Evening News" which he
published as daily in Newport, KY. That paper
was destroyed by the incendiarys torch. His
next venture was the Gree South" in the same
city. For its advocacy OF abolition doctrines. its
type and press were. on Oct %, 1858. thrown
into the Ohio river, and its editor barely es-
capped with his life from an Infatuated and
bloodthirsty pro slavery mob His friends
raised money for him and he was soon
enabled to resume business at the 'old
stand" in Newport. At the close of the war he
removed to Covington. KY. and started the Gov
ington Daily Leader, and in 1868 he moved his
printing Office to Nashville. Tenn. and with
Hon. John Reehan, published the Nashville
Daily Republican. In the year 1875 the in
cendiarys torch was again applied to his printing
Office, and he was again bankrupt Friends
from the North again aided him with money,
and he after began the publication
of the Liberal, in Nashville. a paper of the
most pronounced and radical infidel ideas,
which he edited until the day of his death
William S. Bailey lived for this world and no
other. Death to him was leap in the dark.
He died without faith without hope. He be-
lieved in no heaven. and he feared no hell He
was an Atheist He worshiped only at natures
whether found in the atoms, the rocks, or the
planets, was his only God. Love of home, his
family, his friends, his only priest humanity his
only religion. His convictions were always
those of an honest man.
He now sleeps what he believes to be his last
sleep He saw no star in the galaxy of human
hopes rise above the horizon of his mind to lead
him with anxious tread, even in imagination, to
life beyond the grave; with him the tomb was
the end of human happiness and glory; the last
milestone of human sorrow and misery His
lifes journey 10 now ended The world now has
its fruits, and If beyond this world death lifts
veil and reveals TO mankind new life, realm
of Joy and eternal peace, William S. Bailey will
surely enter its pearly gates, and forever walk
it's golden streets, for ne was an honest man.
Peace to his ashes. w. Fl. LANCASTER.
INDIANAPOLIS, March /.