The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-08-06


than anywhere else in the world on the
luxuries. He would undoubtedly have
made more money in larger city than
Knoxville was then-he would have won
fame anywhere.
But his fame was not confined to his
life as journalist by any means. AS a
public speaker he attracted the largest
audiences wherever and whenever he
appeared upon the platform. When, at
the age OF 81. he wrote of himself: II
weighed as heavy as It's pounds; have
had as fine a constitution as any man
need desire. have very few gray hairs
In my head, and, although rather hard
favored otherwise. / will pass for man
of 40 years. have had as strong a
voice as any man in East Tennessee,
where have resided for the last thirty
seven years, and where have q wife
and seven children" Those who ever
enjoyed the pleasure of hearing him in
the days of his strength will bear lesti-
mony to the truth of what he says about
his voice. 1t was a voice, too, that fell
pleasantly on the ears of his audience.
He was not an orator in the sense that
William T. Haskell, Meredith P. Gentry
or Gustavus A. Henry were; but he
welded an influence in his public
speeches that endured longer than that
Of these wonderful men. No man, rot
even child heard him talk that did
not carry his words in their MEM
ory for years. The first time l saw
him was in the early Sos more than
forty years ago. / was then only a
boy. He was just recovering from a
severe injury inflicted by would-be as
sassin. He was really not physically
able to make public speech, but the de-
sire to hear him was SO general that he
consented to say something. 1t was
only few simple words; but his voice,
his words, his personal appearance and
his manner all are as fresh in my mind
as if it were but yesterday. There was
vigor and clearness that always car
ried force with his public speeches, and
he had way of putting words together,
always the right words. in the employ
ment of which he never hesitated, that
made his sentences fresh and palatable.
His speeches were more remarkable for
force, for cogency than for polish, yet
they were not lacking in that He
may have sometimes said things which.
coming from others, would have bor-
dered upon the shocking; but. coming
from him, they never seemed to be lack
ing in propriety. Had he had no other
claim to fame than his public speeches,
he would have been famous still.
He was a man Of great industry. His
idle moments were few Besides edit
ing his paper and making hundreds of
political, temperance and other speeches,
he found time to write a number Of
books, among them The Iron Wheel
Examined and Its False Spokes Ex-
tracted," "Americanism and Romanism
Contrasted" and Sketches of Rise,
Progress and Decline of Secession" He
was not only a reader Of men, but also
of books, and was we'll up in the litera-
ture of the day. He rarely took va
cation his whole life being given to
unceasing work. In his personal life
he was singularly pure and upright. 1
have already mentioned that that will
be attested without hesitation by all
who knew him intimately, his character
for charity for all mankind and be-
nevolence that was boundless. will
here let him tell in his own quaint way
of himself. Years after he had passed
the first half century Of life he said: Il
am known throughout the length and
breadth of the land as the fighting par
SON. while I may say without mourning
the charge Of egotism that no man is
more peacable. as my neighbors will
testify. Always poor and always OPP
pressed with security debts, few men in
my section and of my limited means
have given more in the course Of each
| year to charitable objects. have never
been arraigned in the church for i'm
morality. l never played a card. l
never was profane swearer. never
drank dram Of liquor until within a
few years, when 1t was taken as medi-
cine. / never had cigar or chew
! of tobacco in my mouth. never was in
attendance at theatre. I never at
tended a horse race and never, witnessed
their running, save on the Fair Grounds
of my county. never courted but one
woman, and her I married"
He began his political career in Ten
nessee when % years old, when he
espoused the cause of John Quincy
Adams against Andrew Jackson He
once became a candidate for Congress-
against Andrew Johnson in the First
District, without hope or expectation OF
being elected. In 1865 he was elected
Governor of Tennessee, the first Govern
or elected after the war. He was re-
elected in 1867. His two terms in that
office embraced a most turbulent and
trying period. He came into Office with