New-York tribune., 1921-12-23
Henry Watterson


Henry Wattefson rose to the front
rank in American journalism largely
because Of the pungency and often
reckless capdor Of his speech and
writing. He wore his heart and his
opinions on his sleeve. He was for
a thing or against it. He was not
man of reservations. And lest
the public shouldn't catch his thought
he employed generously his natural
aptitude for artistic exaggeration.
Mr.. Watterson was never deferred
by circumstances or environment
from exercising his independent
judgment. He was born in Wash
ington, where his father sat for two
terms as Representative from one
of the Tennessee districts and after
ward became the editor Of "The
Washington Union" Father and
son opposed secession, but followed
their state. The younger Waiter
son served in the Confederate army
and for ten months published at
Chattanooga a picturesque army
newspaper called "The Rebel" After
1865 he again showed his bent for
thinking for himself by accepting
reconstruction in spirit. He started
a newspaper in Nashville and soon
migrated to Louisville. AS an editor
and citizen Of Kentucky his voice
was raised for fifty years in behalf
Of the reconciliation and fraterniza-
ton of the two sections. He was
courageous enough to argue for a
generous treatment Of the emanci-
pated negro, and he became fervent
admirer and eulogist of Abraham
Lincoln, another Kentuckian, whom
he recognized as the truest and
greatest American of the war era.
The editor Of "The Louisville
Courier-Journal" was Democrat,
but nationalist Democrat. Within
the party he fought, too, for his
own ideas. He differed with Mr..
Cleveland and attacked him bitterly.
He refused to support Mr.. Bryan
in 1896. He opposed Woodrow Will
sons nomination and was one Of
the most vigorous critics of many of
the Wilson policies, especially the
neutrality policy of the years from
1914 to 1917. He cbuntered "He
kept US out of war" with the slogan,
"To hell with the Hohenzollerns and
the Hapsburgs!" Yet he never for
feited his status as a Democrat or
LOST hisshold on his constituency.
He had no taste for officeholding
or party management. He sat for a
/ few months in Congress, but refused
to stay longer. Yet he was a potent
figure in many Democratic national
conventions. More than any one
else he was responsible for the adop-
tion by the Chicago convention of
1892 Of tariff resolution obnoxious
to the leaders who were putting
through Mr.. Cleveland's third nomi-
nation.
In his personal relations Mr.. Wat
terson was open-handed and OPEN
harted, impulsive and disarn,ing. He
had hosts of friends and few ene-
mics, in spite of his outspokenness.
There were genuineness and SYM
rathy in his makeup which made
an invincible appeal.
In his writing he was vehement,
intense and often flamboyant. But
there was no affectation in this over
emphasis. 1t was the natural ex-
preston of his character, which was
ardent and responded to the stim-
ulus of combat. He made himself
an oracle in politics and his news
paper a national influence. This
was because behind his work as a
Journalist there was man--com-
pounded of faults and virtues, capa-
BILE of error as we'll as Of wisdom
but always sincere and uncontrolled
devoted to American ideals as he
conceived them and honestly EN-.
ploying his great talents for the
public good.
0navx %L~ Cxxe~a. - TIC.