The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1920-03-18
Watersoniana.

must make mirtakes; IL cannot be less
human than its creators. The mis-
takes must be few but when convinc-
ed Of is errors newspaper. like a
true man. should be quick to admit
and rectify them. But there must
be the fire Of the heart, as well rs the
fiber 81 the brain in newspapers: and
no editor ever knew better or better
applied this fact than the great Ken
tuckian who. few days since at
Miami. Florida, found his eightieth
birthday settling gently down upon
him.
In everything he wrote. Mr. Wat
terson always had purpose and he
adhearcd to il resolutely. regretting
that in pursuing il he must intiict a
wound here and there. Borrowing for
friends lost. welcoming friends won.
but advancing always in the general
interest as he discerned IT, He en-
dured abuse. criticism. dissension
and Misunderstanding; but he won
through. And il was because he put
his heart into every fight and the
temperature Of his blood rose ac-
eordingly that he sprinkled the pages
o. American history with those com
pelling phrases which will forever
be associated with the great political
and social movement Of his times.
After he had fought for the es-
Enlistment Of the civil and legal
rights Of the negro in the South
after he had made the greatness Of |
Abraham Lincoln's soul appreciated
among the Southern people; after the /
Greeley and Tilden campaigns. Mr..
Watterson found himself in the cam
paign Of 1884 with slogan TO sound
for party victory. To him. party
victory seemed a necessity TO the
nation; out Of that need and the
memory Of the governmental scan
dals Of the past few years came the
resonant Turn the rascals out"
which turned them out. and civil
Service reform" which began TO
change public Office from the spoils
TO the merit system. "A tariff for
revenue only" one Of the most inn
mortal Of his political phrases belongs
also to this period in which. too. was
struck off that great designation Of
James G.. Blaine as THE Plumed
knight"
In latter years he changed his mind
about Grover Cleveland who became
The Stuffed Prophet" to the glee-
ful interest Of the nation and with
whom Mr.. Watterson saw his party
marching through a slaughter-housc
into an open grave" There follow
ed the period in which Mr.. Bryan
was impaled on the editors pen as
The boy Orator Of the Platte"
never to be forgotten designation.
Roosevelt as The Man on Horse
back" he aided nightly toward de-
feat for third term; and as The
Schoolmastcr" he drew swift car
ioon OF President Wilson which viii ,
endure.
When Mr.. Watterson was in po-
itical trenches. Democracy was al
Nays "unterrifed and undefiled."
,nI The Courier.Journal was the
'star-eyed goddess Of tariff reform"
Is well as "the Old Lady on the cor
Ter" lie would pursue his objects
4 assault as quickly from he'll 10
as from hell to iron
works." and when he clarioned. ITO
-FOUR Tents. o lsreal." the Isrealites
nouthed their trumpets Of ramshorn
md bade the sun to stand still and
he moon in the valley Of Avalon.
When he paid a compliment none
ould be more delicate and eaptivat-
ng than he. I'VE lJek toward you.
jncle Joe" he would say Of the
speaker" and may God bless your
iood old Republican soulr'
IL made literature. this nimble
'hrasing, and Il commanded a larg-
r audience than any other Ameri-
an editor has ever addressed. He