New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-21
ay UNNECESSARY REAPPEARASCE.

II is not too much to say that the reappear-
ance of Mr.. jefferson Davis as an orator before
the Southern Historical Society is quite I'M
called for. Mr.. Jefferson Davis is a person
whom the people of this country would will
ingly forget. Nor could he ask any greater
kindness than to be forgotten. His connection
with public affairs has been at the saddest
possible price to his country and his people.
1t cost too much to retire him for us to
sit by and see him return without pro-
test A post norton by Mr.. Jefferson Davis
on his own defunct Confederacy is not
desired by the American people. He makes
another of his great and woful mistakes II he
supposes the slightest consequence attaches to
himself or his utterances except as they revive
unpleasant memories. Mr.. Davis is only con-
spicuous as a failure. Why he failed, or how,
or what he thinks about it, no man cares. His
game is PLAYED, his great stake lost; and lost
Mt a tremendous sacrifice. No need for him
to come forward and shuttle over the dead
cards now, protesting that with new deal he
might win. Mr.. Davis's game was finished
and his chair set back some years ago. Why
does he come forward now with straws In
his hair and his idle talk of what might
have beeni The world has done with him
and set him aside. There is but one thing
left to Mr. Jefferson Davis in this life, and
that is heroic self-repression. 1t is hard, to be
sure hard for a man who figured so largely
as he in the eyes of the world for so long
period to go out utterly. But that was the
chance he took the stake he put up; and
the loss is his. Better men than he have
paid more dearly for their mistakes.
1t was his to walk through martyrdom to a
place in history only death or silence stood
between him and something that bordered on
Immortality, if it was only the Immortality of
a grand stake unachieved. The weaknesses
of release and garrulousness have destroyed
him. There is nothing whatever in the life
or character of Nj. Jefferson Davis to make
him heroic. Everywhere he stumbles. Every
where his muck-rake sweeps the sky above
him. 1t gets him glory or it gets living, and
for all that we can see it is not material
which. There were men in the great struggle
which Mr.. Davis and bis fellow-conspiratOrs
inaugurated, who, however we may estimate
their judgmen. or their notions of patriot
ism, command our respect and even our
reverence for the great-hearted, silent
way in which they took the course
which seemed to them to be right, and in
which they accepted the results of their ex-
pertinent and bowed their heads to Gods
providence and the results of the war, The
Rebellion had its Stonewall Jacksons who
fought with fiery fanatcism, and laid on the
altar of their profound convictions the largest
possible sacrifice; its Robert E. Lee who, by
his silent acceptance of the result, showed the
"a A. Al
thing else to soften the resentments of the
war; and-if we may be permitted to mention
his name-its Breckenridge who, in spirit
that cannot but challenge our admiration
recognized fully the greatness of his stake
and the entirety Of his loss, and wrapping
himself up from contact with affairs, sank
himself utterly as public man. These are
| men whom the nation against which they
| fought can with reasonable self-respect re-
member kindly. But Mr.. jefferson Davis con-
spired and never fought. = Having failed, he
did not stand in his place, fall on his sword,
surrender gracefully, or hold his peace.
And now he comes from his enforced retire.
ment to say in effect that it was no fair fight ;
that if it had been known at the time of the
surrender what the South was coming to,
there would have been no surrender and eve
"would to-day have been free" and much
nonsense of that sort. And with wonderful
fatuity he adds that he still has hopes of the
South. because, whatever the men might be,
he has "never yet seen q reconstructed
"woman;" a remark which even MIR. Davis
sbould have known cannot but suggest the
scandal which attaches to almost the only
pubIic mention of his name since his bail bond
was signed. Mr.. jefferson Dayis's hopes Tor
| the South are of no earthly account
| In all his connection with the AFFAIRS
of the South he has been noted and
conspicuous failure. A decent regard Tor pup
| Ec opinion if not for bis own population wouiu