The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-03-11
The Death of am Inadel Eaitor

To the Editor of the Eaton Democrat.
William Shreve Bailey the venera-
BILE editor Of the LIBERAL, OF Nash
vile, Tenn, is dead. He breathed his
last on the evening of Feb. 20, of
pneumonia, after an illness of three
days, at the ripe old age of four score
years and ten days. He was an infidel.
He died without a prayer, a single
remorse, IL a word of repentance. He
said to his children and friends around
his bedside during his last moments,
81 am dying. Think not that l fear
death /; I do not. 1t is t. me one eternal
rest. 1 now die, as 1 have lived, an in
fidel."
William S. Bailey was in many
ways. q very remarkable man. He
was educated for the Christian minis
try, but oon relinquished that calling
and entered heart and soul into the
cause of infidelity. He was indeed one
of the pioneers of liberalism in Amer
lea. He was a man of strong convic-
lions, and ever dared to defend them
regardless of eve death itself. He
was before the war. an abolitionist,
and a warm and most devoted friend
of the colored man. He was an editor
from the year 1851, up to tie time Of
his death. His first paper was the
"EvENING News" which he published
rs a daily in Newport, KY. That pa.
per was destroyed by the incendiary's
torch. His next venture was tn.
GREE SOUTH" in the same city. Fol
its advocacy of abolition doctrines
its type and press were. Oct. %, 1858
thrown into the Ohio river, and it,
editor barely escaped with his life
from an infatuated and blood-lhirsty
pro-slavery mob. Ills friends raised
money for him and he was soon ena.
bled to resume business at the "olt
stand" in Newport. AT the close o
the war he removed to Covington
KY, and started the Covington DAHL,
: LEADER, and in, 1868 he moved hi
printing Office 10 Nashville, Tenn.
and with Hon. John Reelan, pub
lished the Nashville DAILY REPUBLI
CAN. In the year 1875 the incendiary'
torch was applied to his printing of
flee, and he was again bankrupt
Friends from the North again aidet
him with money, and he soon arte
began the publication of the LIBERAL
!. in Nashville, a paper of the most pro
nounced and radical infideI ideas
which he edited until the day of hi
death.
William S.. Bailey lived for thi
+ world and no other. Death to hin
was Il leap in the dark. He died with
out faith, without. hope. He believe,
: in no heaven, and he feared no he'll
I He was an Atheist. He worshipe,
only at natures shrine, and bowe,
f only 10 her laws. Truth, whethe
found in the atoms, the rocks, or til
! planets, was his only God. Love o
home, his family, his friends, his on
. ly priest, humanity his only religion
! His convictions were always those O
t OH honest man.
He now sleeps what he believes I
D be his last sleep. He saw no star i
Q the galaxy of human hopes rise -abov
the horizon of his mind to lead hiG
:, with anxious tread, even in imagina
. ton, to a life beyond the grave wit
: him The tomb was the end of Iuma.
), happiness and glory; the last milo
: stone of human happiness and misery
His life's journey is now ended. III
world now has its fruits, and if be
" You'd this world death lifts a veil an
{ reveals TO mankinda new life, a real,
of joy and eternal peace, William s
Bailey will surely enter its pearl
t gates, and forever walk its so de
streets, for he was an honest maj
Peace to his ashes.
W. II. LANCASTER.
EATON, March 5,