The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1905-03-16
william b. Bate.

this morning at o'clock at the Ebbit
House. Washington.
William Brimage Bate was the grand
old man of Tennessee,
He was leader in war, a leader in
peace, and whether serving his coun-
try in war er pease he was dauntless,
true and heroic.
He won the confidence and love of
his people by his fidelity to them. He
never fiinched or wavered in the face
Of adversely or reverses. He was faith
full to the endhe died universally hon
ored and beloved.
In all that it takes to make up the
record of brave, clean and patri otto
life he excelled.
Pts career is an example to emulate
and the manner in which the people
CT Tennessee appreciated his great
worth ano stuck to him to the day OF
his death demonstrates that purity of
life and manly virtue go not without
reward.
In retaining William B. Bate in the
United States senate, the people of
Tennessee demonstrated that they are
not dead to appeals to sacred memory,
cherished traditions, patriotic senti-
ments, and that they will not fail to re-
ward faithful servant. They showed
that they are ready to do honor to the
true and the brave, and that manly
virtue and civic worth are qualities by
which they lay astore.
William B. Bate was the last of the
soldier statesmen of Tennessee.
He served his people through ever
half century of vigorous manhood
without faltering in the hours of dsn-
ger, without failing them in days of
tribulation, and in his green old age
he lowered as bulwark Of all that
stood for rectitude in public life.
He was a warrior 81 many a bloody
battlefield, u gladiator of many sena-
torial combat, but whether amid the
roar and carnage of war or amid the
trying ordeals of the intellectual con-
test of the senate chamber, he was the
same unfinching, able and ''indomita.
able Bate"
He was volunteer in the war Of
Mexics. hero in the bloody struggle
between the states; he boro the brunI
Of sleepless care and and vigil in the
cause Of his people and his martial form
wens down to the grave beari ng the
scars of many battles.
He was always ready when his PEG
pie needed him; he always responded
when his party called him, he risket
his all for his country in her hour o.
trial, he fought on while horses wer,
shot from under MIN, he fought OF
, while bis brother and four Of his kins
men were left dead and dying upoI
one awful field, he fought on while
Though the enemy had crippled hin
for life; an invalid who welded tn,
crutch in his sword hand, and though
he wrs Gale d to be governor Of hi
) state, he chose to fight on so long as al
armedfoe trod the soil of Tennessee.
He was q fighter, fair fighter, pa
tient in defeat, magnanimous in victo
ry, and when the war was done b,
took up the peace battle Of his coun
: try.
He fought through reoonstructio'
times, times that tried mems souls
times when the carpet bag was the EN-
blem of authority and bayonet rul,
gave to tyranny the dignity and fore,
of law, while the black heels of enfran
chised slaves thr eatened the whit,
necks eff disfranchised freeman.
7 Acre the Anglo-Saxon spirit tri
umped, and when the peple emerged
from the tnralldom of reconstructed
! Bate was their wise counsellor ant
able leader in the victory of peace, q
he had been the bleeding warrior ant
the gallant general in the bitter defea
OF wdr.
His party called to him in anothe
hour Of trial, when thehosts of Democ
racy were divided against themselves
+ He responded to the demands of hi
people and un der the wise counsel AM
able generalship they followed his fla,
to the heights of union, enthusiasm
and victory.
Like Ulysses, he then grappled th
: dragon of debt, which a carpetba
!. regime had saddled upon the country
Again able management and indomits
r BILE will triumphed and he solved th
n problem and rescued his stair fror
IS bankruptcy. He redeemed her credit
and started her upon the highway {
paogress and prosperity.
After this he was called up highe
and he sustained himself to the end i
that august tribunal of aSle and NJ
= right men as the poer of any in wis
o dom and honor and patriotism.
AS he was great as public mar
William B. Bate was lovable as pr
vate citizen. He was gentle and jul