Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-02-23

ity. They were copied into newspapers
everywhere, quoted in speeches, read
around camp-fires of Union armies, and
exercised enormous influence in moldine
public opinion North in favor of vigorous
prosecution of the war.
Secretary Boutwell, declared in a speech
at Cooper Union, New York, at the close
of the war, that the succ ess of the Union
army was due to three cause.-the army:
the navy and the Nasty letters" Charlie
Sumner declared: "Uhquestiona ably they
were among the influences and agencies
by which disloy atty in all its forms was
exposed and public opinion assured upon
the right side. 1t is impossible to measure
their value. Against the devices OF
slavery and its supporters. each letter
was like a speech, or one of those songs
which stir the people,"
These letters were a source of great de-
light to President Lincoln, who always
kept them in his table drawer for perusal
at odd times. MIR. Locke once raised a
company of volunteers and applied to
Governor Brough of Ohio for commission
as captain, which was refused the
ground that he could do more good for
the Union cause with his pan than in the
field. The immense popularity of the
Nasty letters led to the demand for Mr..
Locke to enter he lecture field, and he APP
North. Though, as he himself acknowl-
edged, not master of oratory, he always
had crowded and delighted audiences. He
was offered official positions by President
Lincoln, and also by President Grant. but
steadily declined, as his only ambit ion
was in the editorial field.
In 1865 he assumed charge of the Toledo
Blade, first on salary, afterward pur-
chasing an interest, and finally entire
h. 81 RI
found great national weekly, which he
now carried out. He was one of the
founders of the Republican party in Ohio,
and the Nasbv letters were but part of the
powerful work be did in the political field.
He also did a vast deal of purely literary
work, having written two three sue
cessful Plays, books of travels and many
novels, and sketches for his own paper.
He was also a poet of no mean order, and
several of his devotional poems can be
found in various church hymnals.
Some four or five years ago his health
began to fail, after twenty-five busy
years of arduous labor, and he gradually
withdrew himself from active work
Since then he mas write very little, save
the occasional Nasty letters that have APP
peared, and few special articles. chiefly
on prohibition. He became convinced
that prohibition must be the final solution
y
has strongly advocated it in his
paper, but always through nom
partisan methods. He remained
faithful to his Republican ideas
and deprecated any attempt to build up
a separate Prohibition party. Consump-
ton was inherited. it being in his moth
er's family. and several brothers and sis
ters dying of it It's approach was very
slow, and it was not till last November
that he was confined to the house. His
literary labors and newspaper were very
profitable, and in his latter years he was
largely interested in building and manu-.
featuring in Toledo. His fortune is esti- |
mated at $1.00O.00o. exclusive of the |
Blade. He was married while at Plymouth |
to Miss Mary Bodine, who, with their |
three sons, all grown to manhood. survive |
him. The eldest, Captain Robinson Locke. |
has been associated with his father on the |
Blade for the last dozen years, except |
while Consul ut Newcastle on Tyne. En-. |
gland, TO which Office be was appointed /
bV President Arthur.