The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-06-21
TIE SOUTH IND NIB. BA us.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.

TO THE EDITOR OF TIE NEWS.
One Of the most humiliating signs of the
times is to be found in the comments Of Ger
tain editors of Southern newspapers. on Mr.,
.Davis's recent speech at Atlanta. 1t is not the
purpose OF the writer either TO endorse or re,
pudiate, in. any particular, the sentiments OF
that speech. It would, perhaps, have beer
more becoming; as well as more prudent, II
MIR. Davis had maintain ed perfect silence 10
reference to the political situation. Bat, Ger
tainly, 1t must be deeply Notifying 10 all true
men everywhere-North as well as South-to
note the alacrlty with which Southern men
abuse and vlllify the man whom they sorecent-
" admired and honored- Mr.. Davis Is no
longer 'sthe founder of q new nation" He
can 40 longer dispense patronage and CONFER
power BE is now only the ex-leader Of a
'Lest Cause" But, Notwithstanding this
great change, he is the very same Jefferson
Davis he was In 1861. he is identicaly the
sam man to whom, IN less .m%ercenary dsH&
an unanimous South entrusted the leadership
of the cause for whose support. they pledged
their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred
honor" This cause has been irrevocably lost.
and the Southern people are very DESTROYS OF
the restoration OF harmony between the sec
lions OF the country lately at war. But, unless
/ am greatly mistaken, they are utterly un-
willing to attain this end by sacrificing their
self-respect. They have maintained and exer.
clsed the right freely to ~criticise the official and
public conduct of Mr.. Davis, as well as OF
other men. Bot they cannot, without deep
degradation, condescend, in compliance with
q tanatical prejudice, to positive abuse and
villiication of their own deliberately chosen
leader aud champion. If peace can only be
purchased by such humlliatlng condescension,
then let discord reign forever. We cannotde-
grade Jefferson Davis without degrading our
selves. he stands forth now, and he will
stand forth forever, as the representative of
The Confederate cause. The character OF the
people of the Confederate States Is judged of
now, and will be judged Of by the most distant
posterlty, by the character OF their chosen
head. And why should we deprecate such a
Judgment? IL may be true that Mr.. Davis has
made great mistakes. 1t may be even, as some
assert, that our cause was lost through his mis-
management. But when the passions Of the
hour shah have subsidized, IL will not be denied
that, with all Of his faults and s~hortcoming- he
manifested, in an extraordinary degree, Cour-
tesy, dignity, courage, fortitude, fidelity, hor
mainly, and TALL that makes q man." Jeffer-
son Davis has stood by the South with u
shaken constancy and dauntess courage.
During his long imprisonment, Without the aid
Of one friendly voice to cheer his solitude and
confirm his courage, he was not unmlndful,
even for one moment, of the dignity and torti-
tude becoming the leader of a brave though
ruined people. It then became manifest that
the honor of the South was dearer to him than
life itself. In the name Of common decenoy,
therefore, let not Southern men swell the ranks
of those who defame and abuse him. If we
cannot endorse his sentiments, let us say SO
with candor and frmness; but beyond this the
history Of the past .orbids' us to go.
Darlington, 8. O., June, 1871. -AGBIcoLA.~