The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-09-25
Gen, WhitthOrne.

Men are measured Oy JnelE sur
roundipg5. a small man may be q
giant among pigmies. 1t is when
thrown into contact and conflict with
men that man proves his greatness
or his littleness.
Since his early manhood Gen.
WhitthOrne has been the conten4-
porary of big men and has been
measured by their proportions. The
preferment he has had over them, is
the strongest evidence Of his great
ness. In the vigor of life when in &C
tive practice at the bar, he measured
lances with such men as Nicholson,
Frierson and Myers and Fleming,
and stood abreast with them and was
q foreman worthy of their steel. He
was in the front rank OF the foremost
bar of Tennessee.
When he went to the Legislature of
his State, it was at time when the
into service. Among them all, his
merit, his ability, his judgment, his
integrity, shone with a brighter lus-
ire and marked him as leader, and
he was made speaker of the House,
which place he honOred.
Going higher still into the Con-
gress of the Nation, and coming in
direct conflict with the preferred sons
of all the States, his friends saw him
start in the ranks and work to the
top; and for years when the promi-
nent, influential men of Congress
were being called, the name of Whit
thorne was al ways heard. He was
not as matchless in his OratOry, as
some, not as strong in debate as
Others, though he was good at both,
but there was an unerring judgment,
an untiring energy, AN unabating
earnestness that made him u match
for the best of them either as cham
pion or antagonist.
His influence over men was more
than remarkable-it was wonderful.
1t was this that gave him much of
his prominence. In the memorable
campaign when Mr.. Randall was
made Speaker of the House, it was
Mr.. Whitthorne's unerring judgment
of men and his influence over them,
as we'll as Mr.. Randall's confidence
in his integrity aud unswerving
fidelity to friends cause that in
duced the great Pennsylvania Demo-
crAt to call the man from Tennessee
and put his cause and his claims en-
tirely in his keeping.
When appointed by Gov. Bate to
the United States Senate for the I'M
expired term of Judge Jackson, like
Carlisle, his prominence in the
House gave him at once position in
the Senate that comparatively few
ever attain.
Thus it is we find him in the front
at all times, whether as soldier, citi-
zen, lawyer or statesman, his native
ability and great energy pressed him
to the front, and however fierce the
conflict, whether on the battlefield,
at the bar, or in the political arena, he
never fiInched or faltered, but like a
giant among great men, acted well
his part.
That much may be said of Gen.
Whitthorne's record and character as
the political readers Of the Nation
know it. To the people of this Con-
gresslonal District and particularly
those of Maury County there is more
that should be said. Here the inn
press of his great nature was made;
here the influence of his wonderful
personality was felt. 1t is the pecu-
liar privilege of this people to know
the discussions in political ranks his
personal influence and fOrgiving ma
ture, has healed. 1t Is for those of US
who have enjoyed the freedom Of his
confidence, to testify that he knew
no malice and that his heart was
free from hate, and it is their further
privilege to testify to the people who
so long houored and trusted HIM,
that he was their friend in fact as
well as word. In the private cham
Der, when the cloak of prudence was
cast aside and In the confidence OF
friendship he uhbosomed him self to