The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-21
Jefferson Davis, Sincerity.

from the Nation.
Dr.. Craven, the post surgeon at Fortress Mon
roe, has fallen a victim to the prevalent mania
for book making and has produced a full, true,
and particular account of Jefferson Davis beha-
vior since his committal to that stronghold.
The doctor informs the world with much earn
esIness that he has always been a Union man
and an anti-slavery man, and that, if his work
displays sympathy with the prisoner, it must
not be inferred that he has, or has ever had, the
smallest sympathy with secession. In other
words, like a true Christian, he hates the sin
while loving and commiseratlng the sinner. He
also protests strongly that he has in no line COM
mtted the smallest violation of professional
confidence. Whatever Mr. Davis told him as hi S
medical adviser shall descend with him to the
tomb; but everything else about the unfortunate
man, his feelings, his fancIes, his chaerins, his
weaknesses, his opinions, bis habits, all the
petty acts of his lie, from his pulling on his
stockings in the morning TO the putting out of
his candle at night that Vlglant and minute
observer could catch and write down rom day
TO day, may be learned of DR.. Craven for the
small sum of one dollar and quarter.
If Mr.. Davis Is satisfied with the volume no.
body else has a right to complain but 1t he is,
both he and DR.. Craven must az least have the
decency not to claim credit for much delicacy of
feeling. If the book nave any object beyond
the turning OF an honest penny ana we are
bound in courtesy to suppose That II has, 1t is
10 excite the sympathy OF the puollc Tor the
prisoner, and prepare the way Tor general acqul-
escence either in mis- pardon or in his acqulttal
alter a sham trial. Thatlit VIII be partially sue
cessiul we have no doubt, and that any effort in
this direction meets with the hghest othclal
approval we have Just as little doubt. There
have been several indications OF late of q sneak
ing desire on the part of those VINO nave hun in
custody to turn MIN loose, II reasonable pre-
text could be found for doing so; and II would
be difficult to find better mode OF reconcillng
the country TO seeing him back IN Mlsslssippl
than the publication OF such arecord OF his sur
teImgs and thinkngs as DR.. CraVens'
There Is nothing in the volume more sulSlng
or able or more artful, than Mr.. Davis dennl-
tiOn of the struggle in which he ngHred so proml-
nently. He now declares the war TO nave been
merely q rough and painful, but inevitable
mode of deciding q difference OF OPINION, honest
on both sides, between the North ana South, a.
10 the structure Of the Government declares
that he always so regarded II. ana therefore ala
his best to prevent the infusion OF unnecessary
bitterness into il, AZ TO the value OF this as a
statement OF facts, we will only say tnat many
of Mr. Davis speeches during the halcyon days
OF the CoDtederacy furnish strange commen-
JaIy upon 1t. .,4,
the seCessonist leaders were honest IN tnlEklng
they had the right to secede, but whether they
were justified in resOrting TO arms IN assertion
OF il. This is the real question IN all cases OF
treason. We doubt If treason, IN the sense ol
levying war on an established government, has
ever been committed by men VINO mlght hol
fairly claim credit for an honest Dehel III the
| Justice of their cause. Treasonaole attempts
| on the lives OF sovereigns or MINISTER'S Oh sIatI
! have of course as often been made by knaVlsf
| consprators as by honest fanatics; put WI
| doubt whether there has ever been rising II
| arms, on a considerable scale, lor Ine purpos
| of overthrowing government, IN wmch IN
great body OF the Insurgents were not Vhorougnl'