Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-23

ed away as a result of heart trouble.
super-induced by bronchial conges-
ton. after an illness Of only few
hours. With only their SON and
daughter and several grandchildren
present, Col and Mrs. Watterson
celebrated their seth wedding ami
yersary in their apartment Tuesday.
During the day, Col. Watterson con-
tracted a, slight cold which was not
regarded seriously, but yesterday he
suffered an acute bronchial attack
and was ordered to bed, Immediately
by his physician.
Col. Watterson suffered very little
hit was in a comatose condition the
greater part Of the time from early
in the evening until the end.
Henry watterson was one of the
last of the old time personal jour-
nalists. More than half a century
his editorials. with, their brilliant.
original and phrase making compo-
sition, attracted wide attention. They
were commented on end copied by
the press of the nation. Besides his
power in molding public opinion
Through his editorials Watterson's
influence is credited with having
shaped the platform of the Demo-
cratic party in more than one presi-
Dental campaign.
1t was perhaps through an acct
dent that Henry Watterson pursued
journalism. Early in life he evinced
unusual musical talent and his par
ents encouraged it. A mishap that
crushed his left thumb, leaving that
member stiff, caused the musical edu-
cation to be abandoned. as the piano
, was he favorite instrument.
a natural bent for writing develop
| ed but even in this Mr.. Watterson
was seriously handicapped as an
, illness in infancy had affected his
vision. His first journalistic expert
ence was gained on a Washington.
| D. c., newspaper as musical and
I dramatic critic. His father, Harvey
, NJ. Watterson, for 90 years preceding
the outbreak of the War between the
| States, was a representative in Con-
| Cress from Tennessee. 1t was during
this time Henry Watterson laid the
, foundations for an elaborate know
| ledge of national affairs, he passing
much of his time associating with
party leaders of that period and in
! close contact with the operation of
! the government.
! 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 hostilities. he returned to
his Tennessee home, and joined the
| army of the Confederacy. He served
throughout the war, except for a
period of ten months, when he estab-
lished and operated at Chattanooga,
| Tenn, The Rebel" a semi-military
| paper.
| Mr.. Watterson served first as an
aide to the famous cavalry leader.
General Nathan Bedford Forrest and
later was on the staff of General
Lconidas Polk.
: During the campaign between
Generals Sherman and Johnston,
/ Watterson was chief 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-
ieT-Journal, a lineal descendant to
follow it within q few years.
Abraham lincoln was said to be
the great ILssion of Watterson's life.
/
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 cerc-
mony.
Let no Southern man point his
finger at me-" Mr.. Watterson said,
because I cannonize Lincoln, for he
was the one friend we had at court
when friends were most in need
When Wattcrson founded the
Journal, he made plea for har-
mony in the south. Thoroughly
reconstructed himself, he urged all
to follow his course in complete sub
mission to the Federal government.
Mr.. Watterson always advocated a
Tariff for Revenue Only" a 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
first administration as president, but
opposed Clevelands third nomina-
ton.
His service as a public official was
confined to fractional term in Con-
gress. He accepted a seat there in
1867 at the wishes of Samuel J.
Tilden, with whom he was closely
allied. Mr.. Watterson refused re-
nomination for the full term. Ere
quently urged to run for high Office
he always refused, maintaining:
II shall stay where I am, office
is not for me. Beginning in slavery
to end with poverty it is odious to
my sense of freedom
From 1872 to 1892 however he sat
at all national conventions of the
Democratic party as a delegate-at-
large from Kentucky. He presided
over the convention that nominated
Tilden in 1876 and was chairman
of the platform committee in those of
1850 and 1855
Mr.. Watterson opposed William
Jennings Bryan in his candidacy for
President in 1896, but in 1900 the