Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-23
WAS THE LAST or oID-TIME
Personal JOi'RNALtSTS

WAS THE LAST OF oI.D-TIME
Personal JOiRNALtSTS
Henry Wattcrsom was one Of the
last OF the old-time personal journal
lists. More than half a century his
editorials. with their brilliant. orig =
NAL and phrase-mah!ng composition.
attracted wide attention. They were
commented on and cnpicd by the press
Of the nation. besides his power in
moidinG public opinion through his
editorials. Wnttcrson'S influence is
credited with having shaped the plat
FORM OF the Democrats party in more
than one presidential campaign.
II WAS perhaps through an accident
That Henry Watterson pursued jour
nalism. Early in life II. .vinced un-
usual musical talent and his parent s
encouraged it. y mishap that crushed
his left thumb. leaving that member
stin- caused the musical education To
be abandoned. rs the piano was his
ihNOrite instrument.
y natural atnt FOR writing dcvcl-
opcd, but even In this MIR. WUttcrsun
was seriously handicapped, 49, an ILL
aces in infancy had affected his
vision. Ills first journalistic expert
2nIe was gained ON a Washing
ID. e.. newspaper as musical and dra-
matte critic. His father. Harvey NJ
NRttcrson. for twenty years proceed
INK the outbreak of the War Between
the states. was "a representative in
Congress from Tennessee. II was a. ar
ing this time Henry Wattcrsou laid
the foundation for an elaborate
knowledge OF national affairs. he
spending much of his time sssociat Ing
IN close contact with the operation OF
the government.
Edited ..Thc Rebel"
Wattcrson'S course i'm letters and
Journalism IN the national capital was
interrupted just Hs he attained his
majority ID! the outbreak of the war.
With his in;1cr. ne opposed the Sc
rcSsion movement, but upon the dec
TAXATION of h"Stilitics hc returned Ia
his Tennessee home and Joined tn.
army Of the tonfcdcracy He served
throughout the war, except for !.
period ni ten months. when he cStab-
iishcd and operated at ChattanoorH
Tenn, The Rebel" "A srmimiiitary
paper.
Mr.. Wat,crson served first as an
aid To the famous cavalry leader
General Nathan Bedford Forrest. and
later was on the staff Of General
LconidaS Folk.
During The campaign between Gen
erals sherman and Johnston, Waiter
son was chief OF scouts OF the Con
icderate Army.
The Rebci'' instantly achieved
great popularity. The paper was out
spoken ana independent. forrcastinE
IN many things the Louisvill,
couricr-J journal, II lincal dcsccndan n,
TO follow il within II few years.
Abraham Lincoln was said TO ht
the great passion OF WattcrSon's life
HIS lecture on Lincoln" was deliv.
cred in hundreds Of cities and il wa.
/ his pride To tell Of calling on Lincoln
the morning OF his inauguration and
ot standing beside him at the cere-
mony.
Let no Southern man point HE
finger at me-" Mr.. Watterson said
because cannonizc Lincoln. for n,
was the one friend We had at court
"ncH friends We're most in need"
Made Plea for Harmony.
When Wat;erson founded the Jour.
nal he made "a plea Tor harmony IL
the south. Thoroughly reconstruct.
I ed himself, he urged all to follow hi.
course in complete submission 10 tn,
! Federal government.
MIR. W"ttcrson always advocated .
! tnfiu TOR revenue only" ph.as,
which he coined. and which finally
| wac adopted by the Democratic party
lie was an ardent friend of Grove,
Cleveland during the lRttcr's first nd.
! miniSiration as President, but opposed
tlevciand's third nomination.
IiiS service as public official wa:
confined 1" a fractional term In Con
ercss. lie accepted n seat there il
| lS1G-1a At the wishes OF Samuel ]
, Tilden, with whom he WAS closely
allied. Mr.. Wattcrson refused re,
nomination for the full term FIRE.
. =
he always refused. maintaining:
Il shall stay where | am. Offic,
Is not for ME. Beginning in SLAYER,
to end with poverty, ii is odious to IN.
sense of freedom
From 1872 To 1892, however, he sat
at all national conventions OF tn,
Democratic party us Il dcicgatc-at.
large from Kentucky. lie preside,
over the convention that nominate,
! Tilden in 1876 and was chairman o,
m ffr go.
| 1850 and lSSS.
Opp"scd trynn In IS9G.
Mr.. Wntcrson opposed William
Jennings bryan in his candidacy fo,
President in 1885. but in 1900. III,
Couricr-Journal gave him lukewnrn
Watterson dcnominatcd as the FIRE,
silver hcrcsy" being las dead as AZ.
rican slavery in the United States
he became a warm supporter o.
| Bryan.
When the storm Of the Europea,
war broke over the world. Mr.. Wat.
teTson assumed an uncomprnmisint
stand IN support Of the cause ant
| ideals at the cntcnt. allies. dcclarin,
his belief that their cause was tn,
cause Of freedom and democracy ant
that of the central empires that o
autocracy.
| His attitude was tcrscly set fortl
in single sentence that appeared a
the end Of practically every cdito ria
he wrote on the subject for man,
months: TO hell with the Hohenxol
Terms ana llHpsbures,"
| His scRthing Indictment of tn
German leadership was interprete,
| by many Of German blood in thi
country as an attack upon themseive
and broughta storm of denuncia tioi
about, his ears. 10 these Americans
OF German blood, Mr.. Watterso,
made answer that presumably the,
had come TO tho United States I,
! escape the thing he asserted tn
! German "u'crs ware endeavoring I,
/ -
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