The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1870-03-31
TIPTON, IOWA, MARCH 81, 1870.

cause where 1t had SO many advanta-
ges, and where the judgment of the
world had reasoned a priori
that it would succeed. Again and
again has this writer interposed his pen
to avert this condemnation of history
Oh the South, and to point out the true
cause Of its failure in the unworthiness
and paltriness Of the government Of JEFF
ferson Davis, misemploying the resour-
ces of the South, demoralizing at last
the people, and finally giving 1t despair
ing ahd broken hearted pdey, to its
enemy. To be sure, he has had small
thanks for doing this. But he is in no
hurry; and had rather be known to pos
terity as the apologist Of the South than
as the panegyrist of Jefferson Davis.
The emergency amounts to this-that
there is no possible hypothesis to save
the people of the south from the shame
that, in the reflections of time, will as
suredly fall on their surrender, except
that their efforts were enfcebled and di-
verted from their proper effects by bad
government. Jefferson Davis was the
prime source of their weakness--the
cuus0 cdusd,,s of their failure. This
theory vindicates the people Of the
South-reinstates them in the esteem
Of future history. 1t is the only possi-
ble mode ofextrcating the people of the
South from the dishonor of great and
N MI AZ al far f,il 4 10,
Yet it is a somewhat bitter reflection
that the Southern writers who have
pointed out this truth, who have afford
ed an explanation to vindicate their
countryman, and who have used their
pens braveIy and atlectjonately in their
behalf, have been decried by shallow
newspapers as viIfying the South, and
going back'' upon their own people.
simply because of their desertion of Mr..
Davis. This injustice has never dis.
turbed the present writer from doing
his duty-saving the historical reputa-
ton of the people of the South, by the
only method, that is, by pointing out
the cause of their failure in the errors
and shortcomings of the government
which they SO blindly imposed upon
themselves.
The folly of jefferson Davis is the key
to the mystery of the failure of the
Southern Confederacy-a vindication
of the people of the South. In no sense
can it ever be the shame or dishonor of
these Whatever NAV be the interpreta-
ton OF silly sentimentalists); for it is the
misfortune even of the best cause and
of the bravest people that they have
been sometimes served by unworthy
leaders; nor have they for this unhap
py accident suffered in the estimation Of
the world, but rather obtained therefor
its general allowance and kindest SYM
pathy.
General Grant, however we may es-
TEEN him as commander superior to
Mcclellan, has but small honors as
conqueror. Let it be said in justice to
him that in the opening of the year 1864
he fought against advantages at which
Mcclellan would have been appalled,:
that the Confederacy, at least in Virgin
ia, was far stronger then to expeI him
than it was to drive Mcclellan from
Manassas or from Yorktown; and that
he fought Lees army with decision,
with spirit, and with something of sue
cess.
So far, the compari son between him
self and Mcclellan may be held; and
here it ends. While Grant was pound
ing away, insidlous causes interviewed al
least to anticipate him; aud while the
Northern General was doing his best in
the field, there was a black hand laid
inwardly upon the vitaIs of the Conled-
eracy, slowly comprising the life out Of
it, leaving him only IA strangled victim
to be carried away in his train Of
triumph.
The Southern Confederacy was never
conquered by the force of arms. No
desperate and multitudinous battle deci-
ded its fate. There was no dramatic
close; it was the collapse. suddenly nn'
..-.~.y p.oatIate, or thoroughly
rotten thing. Jetieron Davis was not
where, in his speech at Rockets, in lS-
81, he promised he would be-'where
the last line of bayonets was leveled.
That clown of the war, Bombastes Flu.
rioso Wise, did not do as he once declar-
ed he would 10, in his colicky style of
oratory (having habit of delivery as if
his eloquence cut him across the bow
els)-'die in the arms of glory on the
battlefield;' the "last ditch' proved
bloodless-a slough from which have
been bred creatures with ditch water in
their veins, the tOad-eaters and dirt
eaters of our day. The former ruler Of
eight millions Of people survives to fe-
licitate himself over "a bargain by which
he has sold out his historical notoriety
to trading company for fifteen thou
sand dollars Il year; the clown Of the war,
having laid aside his feathers and flint
lock pistols, superintends a gifo Ell ter
prise of "real diamonds and plated
ware" advertised by the certificates of
negro BARRIERS WHO have drawn prizes
in his lottery; the man Of
Atlanta he"Of the lions he art and wood