The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-10-22
NO "QUITTISG" FOR 'SfARSE
HENRY

In a recent issue Of the New York
World, Henry Watterson is quoted as
declaring:
IF Roosevelt is to be kept in the
White House by all means let it be for
life. Make him king. Do more, make
him Emperor.
4 have quit politics forever. 1
wouldn't go to a convention, state or
rational have been p~ugnac1ous,
Heaven knows, but I'm through with
that | shall become, or try to become
an essayist, dealing with the simpll-
cities o. life-the beatitudes, If you
ike. No more politics for me. ! am
sick and ~disguseted with the people OF
my State"
The above discloses a petllence,
hints a encouragement that is foreign
to the militant character of the man
who uttered it. The words are the
words of a gutter" but the voice is
that of Watterson. At the same time,
they do not speak the Watterson that
the country has followed for the
splendid spirit that was his; for the
spirited attacks that he knew 50 well
how to lead; for the acid philosophy
with which he was accustomed to burn
up the elaborate sophistries foisted on
an unsuspecting country. The time
was when, in a moment when all else
was uncertain. when new men were
pushing to the fore and new issues
claiming a transient public attention,
the people came back with a sense Of
relief Of Watterson, preaching and
cyaaL ipr and 61 m MING md defending
with a consistency that gave him al
most a solitary grandeur amid the
rabble of cross-purpose n weak
kneed doubt. AS years went on he be-
came to the great section of a great
party in a sense the Sir Oracle of
opinion and political wisdom. His ad-
vice has been sought, his favour court
ed. His ~eloquence has sWayed thous-
ands, and his reason hes convinced
more than his oratory has charmed.
His satire has been a familiar friend
of all America and his hu1nor a thing
at which the hearts of multitudes have
been WarmedI
And now, wearing his white head
as a distinction, still strong in brain
and trenchant pen, Watterson ak of
stepping aside and letting the current
run around his legs While he meditates
upon the lily pads hunting for min
noWs! The man who has breasted the
stream 81 long and 50 valiantly, talks
not Of drifting with the flow. but of
standing aside and watching it flow
on without his protest. This forceful
and graceful man, this hero Of a
hundred battles, ~retires into his tent
and talks of casting aside the sword
for the brush. He will become an
~essayist, forsooth, who was once in
the front of action, He is "~disgusted
with the people" of his State. who
once was .unfatigued in earning their
idolatrJ. No more politics for him"
whose word conventions waited on!
Instead, and hopeless of attainment to
such a soul of vigorous contest, the
"simplicities' and the "beatitudes."
1t is not as though Watterson, grown
old and white, should retire from poll
tiles after having struggled to the
final attainment of his END. It is not
the withdrawal Of a philosopher con-
tent to have taught and hopeful of
pC5tS14Iy IL IL not tue WeII-edTNe0
rest after work accomplished, but a
disheartened surrender in the admis-
sion of defeat. Bitterness and exas-
peration and petulence ill-becone the
genius OF Watterson. There is in his
words, for all their brave flippancy,
{ touch of desperation; in all their
affectation of disgust, a hint of heart
ache.
One hears much of the .tdemoraliz-
ing character Of politics." One is ant to
hear on all sides the trite observation
that politics will ruin any man. Ger
talnly it is true that a brand of politics
is fatal to any mans best expression
of himself. The trouble, however. lies
IN the mistaken notion as to, what
politics is. Consider it a game. and
the fate Of all who play games is GER
tain. New players come to the board.
New tricks suffice to battle the old
hand. Treachery in the ranks spofls
many a coup. The end is disappoint-
haent, and bitterness. and regret. But
polltlcs in the better sense, is the
MISSIONER for purpose. 1t means an
enlistment for the war" It means an
earnest choice and a faithful pursuit.
It means in the case % the politics
in which Watterson has engaged. a
responsibility as well as a profession.
What is the p~articUla- matter hat has
temporarily affected "Marse Henry,s"
digestion we do not low. We know.
however. thai his ability, his zeal
and his brilliancy are not Qualities
that ought to be, or viii be. wasted
on essays and "~beatitudes~ Wat
terson !, a man who has faced life.
its problems and dangers. He mas