The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1921-12-28
"MARSE" HENRY WATTERSON, I
SOLDIER AND NOTED EDITOR.

SOLDIER AND NOTED EDITOR.
Henry Watterson was one of the
last Of the old time personal journal
| lists. More than & half a century his
editorials, with their brilliant, origi-
nal and phrase-making composition,
attracted wide attention. They were
| of the nation. Besides his power in
molding public opinion through his
editorials, Watterson's influence is
credited with having shaped the plat
form of the Democratic party in more
than one presidential campaign.
1t was perhaps through an accident
that Henry Watterson pursued jour
nalism. Early in life he cvinced I'M
usual musical talent and his parents
encouraged it. A mishap that crushed
his left thumb, leaving that memher
stiff, caused the musical education to
be abandoned. as the piano was his
favorite instrument
A natural bent for writing devcl-
oped but even in this Mr.. Watterson
was seriously handicapped, as illness
in infancy had affected his vision. His
first journalistic experience was gain
cd on Washington, d. c., newspaper
as musical and dramatic critic. His
| father, Harvey M. Watterson, for
twenty years preceding the outbreak
of the War between the States, was
q Representative iii Congress from
Tennessee. 1t was during this time
| that Henry Watterson laid the foun-
dation for an elaborate knowledge of
national affairs, he spending much of
his time associating with party lead
ers of that period and in close con
tact with the operation of the gov
| ernment.
Joins Confederate Army.
Watterson's course in letters and
journalism in the national capital
was interrupted just as he attained
| his majority by the outbreak of war.
With his father, he opposed the Sc
cession movement, but upon the de-
claring of hostilitics, lie returned to
his Tennessee home and joined the
army of the Confedcracy. He served
throughout the war, except for a per-
iod of ten months, wnen he establish
ed and operated at Chattanooga,
Tenn, "Thc Rebel" military
| paper.
Mr.. Watterson served first as an
aide to the famous calvary leader,
General Nathan Bedford Forrest, and
later was on the staff of General
Leondas Polk.
During the campaign between Cen
erals Sherman and Johnson, Watterson
was chicf-of- scouts of the Confederate
army
"The Rebel" instantly achieved
great popularity The paper was out
| spoken and independent, forecasting
in many things the Louisville Cour-
ler-Journal, a lincal descendant to fol-
low it within few years.
| Abraham Lincoln was said to be
the great passion Of Watterson's life.
His lecture on "Lincoln" was dcliv-
cred in hundreds of cities and it was
his pride to tell of calling on Lincoln
the morning of his Inauguration and
OF standing beside him at the cere-
mOny.
"Let no Southern man point his fin
ger at me-" Mr.. Watterson said, "be-
cause cannonize Lincoln, for he was
the one friend we had at court when
friends were most in need"
Makes Plea for Harmony.
When Watterson founded the Jour
nal he made a plea for harmony in
the South. Thoroughly reconstructed
himself, he urged all to follow his
course in complete submission to the
federal government.
Mr.. Watterson always advocated
Tariff for Revenue Only" phrase
which he coined, and which finally
was adopted by the Democratic par
ty. He was an ardent friend of Grover
Cleveland during the latter's first ad-
mlnistration as President, but oppos-
cd Cleveland's third nomination.
His service as a public official was
confined to a factional term in Con-
grcss. lie accepted a seat there in
1867 at the wishes of Samuel J.
llldcn, with whom he was closely al
lied. Mr WattcrGon refused renomina-
ton for the full term. Frequently
urged to run for high office he always
refused, maintaining:
Il shall stay where | am. Office is
not for me. Beginning i'm slavery to
end in poverty, it is odious to my
sense Of freedom"
From 1872 to 1892 however, he sat
at all national conventions of the Dem
ocratic party as delegate t-largc from
| Kentucky. He presided over the con-
vcntion that nominated Tildcn in 1876
and was chairman of the platform
committees in those Of 1880 and 1888.
Attitude Towards Bryan.
! Mr.. Wattcrson opposed William
Jennings Bryan in his candidacy for
President in 1896. but in 1900 the
Couricr-Journal gave him lukc-warm
support. In 1908, however, what Mr..
Watterson denominated as the "free
silver heresy" being "as dead as AT
rican slavery" in the United States,
he became warm supporter of Bryan.
Mr.. Wattcrson also devoted some
OF his editorial attention to social
questions He once made q eovono ot