The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1871-06-21
tF'om-the charle.toH. Courier. ]
1r. Davis, the Southern Democracy
and their Position.

~
Ar. Davis, the Southern Democracy
and their Position.
we have recently alluded to and
regretted the speech which Mr..
Davis delivered at Atlanta. Our
reasons were briefly stated, be-
cause the sentiments then uttered
were in reference TO q settled past.
and for the further reason, that
their only tendency was to the in>
jury of the South, and to the pre-.
vention Of that restoration of self.
government which is so essential.
not only to liberty, but to the pros.
perity ofail industrial pursuits and
progress. 1t is the height of wis.
dom to perceive and acknowledge
the. truth. The recognition Of
events as they are is even an i'm.
Perative duty in the light of the
public welfare. It is the recopni
ton of a fact. 1t is with facts, and
not with theories, that statesman.
ship has to deal:
Eeneral Lee perceived the truth.
And there is little question that
his name will descend to posteri.
ty, ias the central figure of the
Southern cause, not only on &c
count of his bravery in battle, but
of his supreme wisdom, since the
decisions rendered by the arbitra.
lnent OF arms. These are times
when speech is silver. There are
also times when silence is golden.
The common want of the South
is redemption, and return TO real
self:government. This cannot be
attained by useless repining as
against the past. This is as futile
rs the beating of the wings of the
bird against its wired cage. The
future can neve, be attained in
this way. A future this Common
wealth and the States of the South
must have. This is alike their me-
cessity, and essential for their de.
velopment. That future can alone
be consummated by letting the
dead past bury it's Dead" and DEAL
ing with the living issues of the
present, "beart within and God
o'erhead." 1t is not committed to
us to control events. 1t is COM
mitted to MS to shape and regulate
them for the pubic welfare.
Mr.. Davis was the President of
tho late Confederate States. He
was their representative in the late
war. But the war is over. The
decision of the sword has been rem
dered. Beyond this there is no
appeal. When, therefore, Mr.. Da-
Wis, either Intentionally or by in.
ference, recoWmends a return to
another revolution, he simply docs
violence to his own position, and
no longer occupies the position of
a representative Of tie Southern
people. His representation ceas-
cd with the close of the war. Since
then the people of the South have
been placed face to face with des-
tiny, and have had to deal with
it in their own defence and Sc.
curity.
There are but two political par
tics in the country, the Repnbli.
cans and the Democracy. There
is no effective intermediate org an
ization. The latter have announced
their platform OH the basis of the
)" binding obligation of all the pro-
visions Of the Constitution, as they
now exist, and the depreciation Of
the discussion of the issues which
have been settled, in the manner
and BY the authority constitution.
ally appointed" When, there.
fore, Mr.. Davis takes issue with
this position, he simply arrays him.
self against the Democracy of the
country, and declares for an isola.
ted and impossible position.
This is a land of free speech ;
Mr.. Davis is therefore entitled to
the full expression of his senti.
ments. These are those simply q
an individual. To hold the Souti,
responsible for them is quite an.
other matter.
That they have been Of incalcu.
liable disadvantage to the South,
there can be no question. That
this was without authority or right
is manifest. But nevertheless the
fact y 80, and it IL with facts that we
have to deal. We know not chat
we can better present the senti
ments of the Southern Press on this
subject than by tie subioined ex
tracts ffom two Of the leading iour
mails Of its Democracy.
Says the Richmond Dispatch. in
relation to the Identification of the
South, with the alleged opiaions
IN Mr.. Davis speech q The South
Is ready and willing 10 ialti hand.
With Mr.. Adams. Andwerd SvaS
JEFF Davis S'mself to counsel oul
peOpIo to holt = "a raf,,o. ~ ....