The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-03-06
Henry watterson's Lecture.

Henry Watterson's Lecture.
The last lecture of the Y. M. @. A. course
was given by Henry Watterson, the famous
editor of the Louisville Courier Journal, in
the First M. K, church to good sized audi
ence Tuesday evening. His subject was
from desk and rostrum decorated with the
stars and stripes. The early days of the
republic were glowingly pictured and the
events leading up to the irrepressible con-
flict were accurately traced. Lincoln's tall,
angular, sad-faced personality was contrasted
with the more polished eastern type. His
humor and thoughtfulness, his qualities for
leadership and his hold on the public SYM
pathy were shown to be not of human origin
but inspired by God, The speaker had
been taken to task for such view OF inspir-
alton but he believed In it nevertheless.
Lincoln was a southern man, the only pos
sible candidate who was not embittered
against the south; on the contrary, he was
the true friend of the south trying to save
her from herself Lincoln was the master
of his cabinet although he gave to each mem
Der great control over the several depart
mcnts. He was not civil service reformer
of the type of Grover Cleveland. His gen.
erals were often provoked at him for his in
reference in pardoning soldiers condemned
to death. His death was tragedy I'M
equalled in history and by his murder the
south lost her best friend. Mr.. Watterson
portrayed the friendly relations of Lincoln
and Stephens and alluded significantly to
what some day might appear in regard to
terms of compromise offered the south by
President Lincoln. The south did not &C
cept them because the Almighty had decreed
otherwise. The orators perOration was
magnificent apostrophe to the true greatness
of Lincoln, the philosopher, politician,
statesman, prose poet and martyred hero.
AT the close of the lecture many of the
audience were presented to Mr.. Watterson
by Prof Simmons. Many rejoiced in an
opportunity to shake hands with one of the
foremost journalists and speakers of the day.
Henry Watterson is now fifty-six years
of age, of medium height, hair very white
and parted in the middle; he is just little
stout and his arms, unlike Lincoln's, are
rather short while his hands are plump and
soft as child's. He was born in Washing
ton, ID. G. and owing to defective eyesight
(the use of his right eye being entirely lost
was privately educated. At the age of IS
he became journalist connected with the
Democratic Review and The States. In
1861 he edited the Republican Banner, of
Nashville, Tenn. He served in various ca
pacities IN the Confederate army being chief
of scouts in Gen. Joseph Z. Johnston's
army at the close of the war, when he re-
sumed his work in Nashville.
In 1867 he succeeded George ID. Prentice
as editor of the Louisville Journal which be-
came later the Louisville Courier Journal.
He served in congress from August, 1876,
until March, 1877, and presided over the
Democratic national convention at st. Louis
in 1876. He is the author of book pub
lshed in 1888 entitled oddities of South.
ern Life and Character" He has always
been thorough and leading Democrat and
it vas significant to hear him refer 20 the
democracy just before the war as like the
democracy of today, in that it is hopeless.
tu diuided. Stephen A. Douglass was ex-
allied as patriot whose bark rode an ebbing
tide and whose last departure from Wash
ington was most pathetic scene.
Henry Watterson is an orator of the higher
type, speaking with variations of delicacy
and emphasis and inspiring the listener
with greater reverence for the memory of
Abraham Lincoln and the Creator who in
spired him.