The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-08-26
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

- ooCAUtaIy VI INC w lnneD8gO OOuu-
ty, ILL.,, Agricultural Society, from
whom he had received and acceptedan
invitation to deliver an address at the
annual meeting Of the Association in
September, very sensible and cour-
teous letter, giving the reason which
had impelled him to telegraph his
revocation of his previous acceptance.
This reason was q sufficient one--that
he was not wanted. The objects which
had induced him, he says, to accept
the invitation had been that person.
al intercourse might remove prejudi-
ces; that he might confer with the
Patrons Of Husbandry concerning the
obtaining Of better means of transpor-
tation for the products Of the soil v;a
the Mississippi river; and that he
might see in its cultivated dress a
country known to him as trackless
wilderness. S'5 .s''5. ,s''>'.,i .S,=z. !
The Association was thus quietly
relieved by Mr.. Davis himself from
the unpleasant dilemma into which it
had been drawn by its Secretary.
Among the other gushings contained
in the letters Of this official is the fol-
lowing: 1--WE sincerely wish to show
the country and the world our pur-
pose and determination to reinstate
talent and craftsmanship wherever re-
cognized, and smother forever preju-
dice and animosity that are now
ever and anon rekindled for political
ends" He also assured Mr.. Davis
that the compensation for his address.
$500, was $500 greater than that paid
Senator Carpenter, Senator schurz,
Gov. Beveridge and other distinguish
ed men of the North. =
Some Of the Southern papers be-
come very wrothy over the matter
and denounce in bitter terms the peo-
pie Of Winnebago county who did
not care to hear Mr.. Davis. One of
them, however, makes the sensible
observation that 'he would preserve
his reputation better by avoiding pub
lie notoriety altogether This is
very true. Jefferson Davis has been
exceedingly leniently dealt with by
the people of a country he has done
so much to wrong and injure. He is
free to come and go where he pleases,
and, if there are those who want to
hear him, to speak where he pleases
North or South-but his appear
ance in public can do no possible
good. 1t is no argument against a
desire on the part of the people of the
North for reconciliation and good
feeling with the people of the South
that they do not want, in the most
prominent position at their public
gatherings, the man who is response.
bic largely for the Rebellion and al
most wholly for the atrocious cruelty
which was connected with it. They
are willing to forgive and forget much,
but when Mr.. Davis is put forward
as teacher the limit is reached. 1t
is not that he was rebel-and he is
yet an unrepentant rebel-but that he
made war brutal; that he did every
thing to increase and nothing to les.
sen the misery and suffering of the
men who fell INTO his power; that he
was vindictive and merciless. It
will be better for all concerned that
he pass the remainder of his days in
quiet and unobtrusiveness, thankful
for the privilege Of doing so. + -
Later revelations make it appear
that this is not to be. A number OF
other agricultural societies had sent
invitations to Mr.. Davis after he had
agreed to 60 to Winnebago county
and before the protest from the peo-
pie there caused him to withdraw
that acceptance, which invitations are
now unpublished in the Memphis (Tenn.)
Appeal. The folly which originated
with Mr.. Secretary Kimball seems to
have become mania. It is proba.
bic that one or more of these invita-
tons will be accepted. ~