The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-06-17
Jefferson DaYEs.


has been commented on, that Jefferson
Davis was the trusted and acknowledged
oracle Of the Southern people-the trns ex-
ponent of their vIews-and that they repose
the most unbounded confidence in every
thing, no matter how absurd, that may fall
from his lips. The very reverse Of this is
the truth, for if there is any one man more
than an other who acted leading and con-
rpicuous part in the rebellion, and who is
now without sny solid influence in moulding
public sentiment In tho South-whose ad-
vice is unheeded aud whose counsels are
spurned, that mar is Jefferson Davis.
1t is q we'll known fact that, as President
of the southern confederacy, Jefferson Davis
was unpopular with bis own people. His
administration was weak and unsatisfactory
and utterly failed to impress the Southern
mind with any strong belief in his capacity
as a leader. 1t was in the sound judgment
and on the strong arm of Robert E. Lee that
the people Of the South placed their reliance,
and not on one who was SO notoriously
crotchety, impracticable and dictatorial as
Jefferson Davis confessediy was. That he
can gather around him crowd to listen to
his foolish and frothy harapgucs. just as
George Francis; Train can and does in the
North, is quite natural, but does not prove,
either that the people of the South sympa-
thizs with Davis, or that Trains audiences
in the North are converted by his endless
nonsense. Davis may utter bis Dournful
regrets over the "lost cause" when and
whore be pleases. He may protest that he
accepted nothing, but the Southern mind
will fail to yield its assent. All this radical
hypocracy about Davis speech and of an
other rebellion in prospective. is SO transpa-
rent that no man. even though he be a fool,
can be deceived by it.
Radica ism, just now, is sorely in need OF
a war cry. Its old shibboleths of "traitor," !"
"copperhead," and 'sympathizer with re-
belion," having had their day and fallen
into contempt, something else must be sub
stituted to answer if possible the same pur>
pose. Hence this miserable effort again to
infame the passions and prejudices of the
North, which happily have almost entirely
disappeared, by falsely representing Jelfer-
son Davis as plotting another rebellion, and
that the people of the South are willing and
anxious to aid him in the attempt. The
plain object is to divert public attention from
the sins of Grants administration and TO fix
it on OH imaginary outside issue. This old
trick will not answer the purpose-it is too
late-the fatal handwriting is already writ
ten on the wall. The people fully under
stand the issue and are not to be turned
aside from their purpose by any childish
fear that Jefferson Davis is about to iuaugu-
rate another civil war. Appella the Jew
may believe that, but no sane man will
The Atlanta speech has met with uuquali-
fled condemnation by the Southern papers.
They ridicule and denounce it, and have no
kind of sympathy with its author. We
could fill our paper with extracts from lead
ing journals in the South, to show the esti-
mate in which jefferson Davis is held in his
own section, but will content ourselves by
laying before our readers the following from
the Richmond Enquirer and the New Or
leans Times:
From the Richmond Enquirer.l
Mr.. jefferson Davis exhausts our patience
We have tried to remain silent, but, as be
will have it, we now speak out.
What is the upshot The upshot is this,
the Southern people 60 net intend to follow
Mr.. Davis. They have not got the slightest
idea of 1t. Mr.. Davis Is at perfect liberty
to ''accept nothing"-to refuse "to abide
the Issues of the .war"-to announce that
the South is only waiting" &c. We. on
the other hand, 90 accept the situation, and
consider the war ended. We have been
utterly overwhelmed, and there is nothing
else for US to do. We nourned over the
lost cause" as bitterly as Mr.. Davis. But
we are not going to give sup. We bow to
the decrees of God, and conceive it to be the
duty of every Southern man now to go for
ward, and not to sit forever in the ashes.-
We have put the past behind us. And we
tired Of this sort Of talk. Their purpose
and object is to unto with the great Demo-
cratic party of the North, and try to beat
the Republicans in the Union. This can be
done, if we ara not embarrassed by such i'm
prudent utterances as those of Mr.. Davis.
From the New Orleans Times.
1t is a great pity that thoughtless people
in certain parts of the South will persist in
calling out Mr.. Davis. and badgering him
for speeches. 1t is also great misfortune
that Mr.. Davis will make speeches like that
reported from Georgia, wherein the hope
and confidence of the eventual triumph of the |
principles inTOled in the Confederate strug- |
gle arc expressed. There is no form of ex. |
preston which even ingenious rhetori> |
clan as Mr.. Davis can employ, of the idea |
here Swallowed forth, that will not be SUBJ |
iect to misconstruction and baneful distor- |
ton. We, who know Mr.. Davis, under |
stand we'll what is meant by his language
that when be hopes to live long enough to |
witness the resurrection of the principles in |
W hiCli the Confederate movement originated, |
he referred to his cherished and sincerely |
held doctrine Of State rights, which be has |
ever maintained with jefferson, Madison,