The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-07-07
HENRY
A Mighty Intellectual Giant Who Hath
Fallen.
CHARLES B MAsTEN.

A story at once sensational and pa
thetic comes from a neighboring city.
1t ia sensational, in that it bears evi
dence of the methods to which the
gold power resorts to silence whom 1T
fears; the pathetic feature is that a
| great journalist and a superb intellect
should be bullied and crushed before
the world.
The story relates to Hsnry Waiter
son. once a Tennessean, who, as editor
Of the Louisville Courier Journal for
the past quarter Of a century, has won
a national reputation as a brilliant
writer and a profound thinker, and
who in the political arena has achieved
a distinction second to that of no man
for fearless end powerful advocacy Of
the principles in which his faith was
grounded.
Who that has attended a national
Democratic convention since 1876 has
not felt his attention riveted upon the
dashing kentucky champion Of tariff
reform, and as he listened to the burn
ing words that fell from the lips of elo-
quence, and witne 3ed the great devo
tee of the star eyed goddess in the full
fedge of his glory and his genius and
his power, has not, with mind filled
with admiration and heart aglow, &C
~knowledged himself to be in the pres
ence of leader9
That was Watterson the superb
But now, alas! how has the mighty
fallen!
His country bleeds in the midst of
political strife; his people are engaged
in a contest the issue of which mean
life or death, but they look in vain for
the valiant Henry. The advancing
hosts of right move on without him.
That toss of the we'll named head, in
describably Wattersonian and delight
fully eloquent, which in times gone by
was worth O thousand slogans, is now
but a dream Of the past; the clarion
voice once so productive of enthusiasm
is hushed; the trenchant pen, which
was wont to go to the very vitals of
corruption, is chained; sealed are the
| flowing ink wells of his mind into which
that pen was never dipped but to carry
! conviction and inspire courage; and
Watterson, a Wandering Minstrel, !"
has gone to E1rope.
The story which is about to be rela
ted is vouched for by responsible par
ties, and, taken in connection with
various circumstances, bears ali the
marks of truth. Mr.. Wattereon was
in this neighboring city referred to for
the pup )se of delivering a lecture.
After the lecture ne was entertained at
a political club. He was called upon
for O speech, and asked for something
on the financial question. He replied
Il an nothing more than a wandering
minstrel; my m0uth is no better than
q negro slaves"
Subsequently on the same occasion,
when good cheer had risen to it's height
the great editor became Confidential,
and TO a friend who asked him the ex
PLANTATION of his ~enigmatical remark,
he related his unhappy experience
with the gold power.
He said hat all his life he bad been
a free silver man; that he believed il
was right and would always believe So
He said that about two years ago he
had written a free silver editorial fol-
Courier J Journal. The man who has
the controlling interest in the paper
heard of the editorial, came down tt
the Office and KILLED it."
Then Mr.. Watterson, in his wrath
announced that he would resign.
The owner would not hear of thu
magic name of Watterson being di
vorced from the Courier Journal. 81
J said that the paper must support tn
gold standard, but that Mr.. Waiter
} son must remain as editor. The con
J dition he proposed was that Mr.. Wat
terson need not write a line if he die
choose to do so; that he could go Wherr
he pleased, but under 10 circumstance
was he ever to open his mouth OF
silver.
Mr.. Watterson said that his fuancia
l condition was such hat he felt forceC
' to accept the terms laid down. Sinct
that time he has written some for tn,
paper, but never on the financial qIes
! 1on.-Nashville, Tenn, Sun.