The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-04-09
A Great Man Gone.
DEATH OF COL. WIN. l.. SAUNDERS.
North CarOlina's Able and HOnOred
Secretary of State.

Secretary of State.
Col. VIM. L. Saunders, Secretary Of
State of North Carolina, died at his
home in Raleigh at an early hour last
Thursday morning. In his death
truly great man, a loyal and patriotic
citizen, has passed from the stage of
action. We take the following from
the Ne7ce and Observer:
The announcement of the death OF
Col. Saunders will bring genuine
sorrow to thousands of North Caro-
linians.
But few men in the State have ever
been SO thoroughly esteemed. His
friends are found in every section -
personal friends, whose attachment
to him has been heightened through
sympathy in his suferings, and polit'
ical friends who have regarded him as
deseryedly ranking among the truest
sons of North Carolina.
He has had the confidence of the
people and has enjoyed the admira-
ton, esteem and respect Of all who
have been brought into relations with
him. Indeed the opinion is widely
entertained that he was one of the
most remarkable men of his day. He
was a strong man in thought; strong
man in action, and he welded an in
Auence among the thinking men of
the State that was second to none.
As a devoted North Carolinian
none surpassed him. He periodically
served his State in time of war, and
when peace came he sought to ad-
vance her best interests. In council
he was wise, and in action he was
resolute. He rendered most valuable
service as an adviser, and his trenchant
pen was employed in behalf of the
people. He devoted his energies, his
| great talents, his very life to North
Carolina.
The first we knew of Col Saunders
was because OF an article that appeared
in the Wilmington Journal iii the
campaign of 1870, 1t was the
strongest and finest newspaper article
we have ever read. He was the author,
1t was our fortune to become &C.
quainted with him at the succeeding
session of the Assembly, when he was
clerk of the Senate, and after that we
came to know him we'll. He was as
ISOLATED with his brotherin-law, Maj
Jos. A. Englehard, as editor of the
Wilmington Journal, and at once was
recognized as the strongest writer in
the State. In his journalistic career,
he never made mistake. He never
charged fact wrongfully, but he was
boldness itself in statement and like a
whirlwind in denunciation.
Later he came to Raleigh with Mr..
Hale and founded the OOserver, but
| on the death of Maj. Englehard, then
Secretary of State, he was appointed
to that office. Soon after entering
upon its duties, he became interested
in the Colonial Records, and that was
the occasion of a closer association
between him and ourselves than other
wise might have existed.
For ten years we had this common
interest outside Of personal friendship
and political associations and the init
macy grew with the years.
As we have said, Col. Saunders was
a remarkable man. He was man of
great capacity; of strong conviction
and correct sentiments. His opinions
of their own force exerted an influence
beyond those of any other man in the
State. He wrote with great vigor and
force, yet elegantly. In this we think
he excelled every other writer in the
State. There was precision and
clearness of statement that was
altogether admirable.
He was taken about 1870 with
| rheumatism that turned into rheumatic
govt. This he attributed in some
measure to the effect of exposure
during the war. He was a great suf-
ferer from it and at least for fifteen
years he was almost constantly in pain,
often suffering excruciating agony and
frequently in peril of his life.
Yet he bore up SO cheerfully, 80
patiently, with such resolution and
fortitude, that his intimates were
troubled when twelve months since
they first discovered signs of impa-
tience. They thought it symptom
of weakening in his power of self
control.
Shortly before he had finished his
great work, the Colonial Records, a
friend remarked to him that by no
means ought he to finish that work
for as soon as it was off his mind his
desire to live would weaken and his
struggle for life would be less resolute.
The work was then about completed,
and when the House in acknowledged
ment passed a resolution of thanks to
him, by rising vote, we told him OF
their action, and he was gratified be-
yond our expectation. The honor
done him by the Assembly was most
highly appreciated by him. It is in
deed great work and employed him
for some ten years, entailing vast
research and trouble that but few can
estimate. But it is a monument to
his fame. He gloried in it too, for he
was enabled to bring out prominently
matters that rebound to the glory OF
our people, illustrating their capacity
for self-government, their devotion to
Republican principles and their reso-
lutte purpose to maintain their liberties.
In principle he was an ardent Dem
ocrat. We do not mean merely that
he was attached to the Democratic
party, but that he treasured the under
lying principles of Democracy, the
freedom Of the people, their right to