The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-05
HENRY PATTERSON.

Nashville American.
 When. many years ago, Henry Wat terson, then an unwilling member Of Congress from Kentucky, stated, in replying to a speech of Pig Iron Kelly, of Pennsylvania, that at no distant day from the one on which he was speaking. iron would be pro duced in the Southern States at cost not exceeding $s per- ton, he was laughed at by his practical opponent. and his statement was pooh -poohed as that of a theorist and dreamer. And yet, all the world now knows that shortly thereafter Mir. Watterson's prediction was more than literally full filled, and that Birmingham. unre- strained, is now able to dictate the price of that great commodity.
 Mir. watterson knew that he was stating the truth. He was. as Pat rick Henry advised the young lawyer always to be sure sure of his evidence. He was personally aware of the fact that vast veins of workable iron ore -cokinr coal and suitable limestone constituting all of the necessary in- gredients for the manufacture Of iron. existed in immediate. unparaiieied proximity in certain localities Tn the South. He philosophically understood the character of the people or this section and the changes which were rapidly taking place as the result or the civil war between the states leading us to become, in part. at least, manufacturers of the raw material at our doors He reasoned that we were true Americans. and that, favored as we were we would not, could not, fail to avail ourselves of such advan- tages and that the unprecedented would certainly occur.
 Mir. Kelly made the same mistake about Mir. Watterson that many others make. He Is a theorist-another name for thinker-and perhaps he Is dreamer, but he is something more than both. Those who believe that they know him fairly well think him a brilliant editorial writer and forceful. eloquent speaker with an fn- innate knowledge of national politics. loving his fellow man, especially Ken tuckians jovially partaking with them of daily potions of beverage, a product of Kentucky. which gives the State celebrity. This estimate Is partly true, but appreciative friends of his caliber who have for years en- joyed his intimate friendship know that such characterization falls Tar short and is. in part, wholly untrue
 Mir. Watterson is a theorist because the greater part of his life has been devoted to a study and high appre- ciation of the writings of the sages and thinkers of the world-men who have outlined. in one way and another, plans for the amelioration of our ills and the general betterment of man kind. Endowed with great natural ability, reinforced by energetic study and thought. he has been able to firmly lay hold of the salient. practi- cal features of good in these and to perceive and discard the impracticable and untrue. If he is dreamer, as many of our greatest men have been, if is because he has always believed that the good proposed by these writ CTS and thinkers could be achieved. in time, by an uplifting of the people themselves through education to full realization of their value and the pos sibility of bringing about their full filment.
 His active life began at the seat of government at the opening of the great struggle between the States or Union. The end of the intervening forty-seven years finds him just as active, in the fullest possession of undimmed mental and physical vigor in fact, with a mind greatly enriched by hard study and experiences more important and varied, perhaps, than those of any public man, who can pc named, for 1t is not office but principles which interest and concern us. Be, fore his active career began ne nad thoroughly mastered philosophic knowledge of the country's history and fully appreciated the trend of af- fairs. He knew personally the leaders of thought, understood clearly the contending views. took an active part in the great struggle these brought on, and has since maintained most intimate connection With puoHc affairs. having acquaintance of close nersonal nature with friends and oppo- nents who influenced thought and ac- tion. On many notable occasions he has himself been In the front more often' however, the trusted friend ana adViser of others, who were fighting for the adoption or maintenance or prlnclpies for which he contended.
 He has steadily and powerfully con- tended for the personal liberty Of the citizen, for the enactment of that leg islation which would secure this ana give to all the rightful returns for their labor He has always. with equal ardor. insisted upon strict obedience to enacted laws as the only safe means for the preservation of the liberty ana good government. He has time ana again on platforms in every State in the Union eloquently and nonvincingly demonstrated the true superiorit" of morals over wea!t6. and before the same large audience has held up the emulation of all citizens the lives and careers of those who had best served their country. He has never failed in his graver utterances to be most pune tilious in stating facts and those who attacked the correctness of these, his- torical or otherwise, eventually admit ted themselves mistaken or were fair 1v convicted of being themselves in error. This arose. in part, from the extraordinary opportunities he has en- loved at getting at the real facts, but more especially from a fixed belief with him that truth is the only impregna- bIe basis on which to stand. Whatev- CT the subject, his arguments, based on truth, have always been character ized by earnestness and ability follow ed by convictions to unprejudiced minds.
 He could not. of course. be the man he is without a strong sense of hu- nor and a wide range of imagination, and without doubt he has often skill fully employed these facilities in wag- ing some of the wars in which he has at times engaged, but 1t is ser ious mistake to give undue weight to these or the effect of their use in form Inc an estimate of his character He