Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-05-14
The Mighty has Fallen.

'HthVpS NOhIo iiuih p" 'S'S"oNi7
lAg city. 1t is sensational, in
Shat it bears evidence of the
to which the gold power
resorts TO silence whom it fears
the pathetic feature is that a
great journalist and a superb in
tellect should be bullied and
and cowed into submis.
S on and a false attitude before
the world.
The story relates to Henry
Watterson, once q Tcnnessean,
who as editor of the Louisville
Ccurler-J ournal for the past quar-.
ter of a century, has won % ma.
tioual reputation as o brilliant
writer and a profound thinker,
and who in the political arena has
achieved a distinction second to
that of no man for fearless and
powerful advocacy Of the princi-
pies in which his faith was
grounded.
Who that has attended a Ma
tional Democratic Convention
since 1870 has not felt his atten.
ton riyeted upon the dashing
champion of tariff reform, and as
he listened to the burning words
that fell from the lips of elo-
quence, and witnessed the great
devotee of the star-eyed goddess
in the full fedge of bis glory and
his genius and his power, has not
with mind filled with admiration
and heart aglOT acknowledged
himself to be in the presence of o
leaders
That was Watterson the su.
perb.
But now alas! how has the
mighty fa!len9
His country bleeds in the midst
of political strife; his people are
engaged in a contest the issue of
which means 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 de-
eloquent, which in times
gone by was worth q thousand
slogans, is now but dream of
the past; the clarion voice once so
productive of enthusiasm is hush.
ed; the trenchent 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 Waiter
son, a Wandering MINSTREL" has
gone to Europe.
The story which is about to be
related is vouched for by respon.
sible parties, and taken in connec-
ton with various circumstances,
bears all the marks Of truth.
Mr.. Watterson was in this
neighboring city referred to for
the purpose of delivering lee
ture. After the lecture he was
entertained at political club.
He was called upon for a speech,
and asked for something on the
financial question. He replied:
II am nothing more than a wan
dering minstrel; my mouth is no
better than a negro slaves"
Subsequently on the same occa-
sion, when good cheer had risen
to its height, the great editor be.
came confidential, and 10 a friend
who asked him the explanation of
his enigmatical remark, he related
his unhappy experience with the
gold power. He said that all his
life lie had been a free silver man
that believed it was right and
would always believe so. He
said that about two years ago he
had written free silver editorial
for the COurier-J ournal. The
man who has the controlling in
tcrest in the paper heard of the
editorial, came down to the office
and "killed it."
Then Mr.. Watterson in his
wrath announced he would resign.
The owner would not hear TO
the Ii agic name of Watterson be-
ing divorce from the Courier
Journal. He said that the paper
must support the gold standard,
but that Mr.. Watterson must re-
main as editor. The condition he