National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-16
Jeff DAVIS m PUBLIC ONCE MORE.


and his friends are jubilant over the idea
that among the greatest attractions of their
show will be the arch-traitor of the rebel
lion. 1t is presumable that the society is
non-partisan, though it is probable, as we
have intimated, that Kimball is q dyed in
the-wool Democrat. 1t is, therefore, fair
to infer that the excuse for this gross insult
to the loyal people Of the State and the en-
tire North will be that the invitation was
conceived for the Ostensible purpose of at
tracing crowd to see wonderful and
strange exhibition; but the truth is it was
probably intended for political effect
Whichever view may be the correct one,
neither will De satisfactory to the general
public nor complimentary to JEFF. Davis.
For this reason we hope the report Of his
acceptance is untrue, and we are inclined
to believe it is, for the letter of acceptance
does not read like the smooth composition
of polished writer, such as he is known
to be.
But, assuming the report to be true, In
what light does it place the contracting
parties3 Davis has promised himself and
the public to remain for the balance of his
life a quiet spectator OF the peaceful prog
ress of affairs which he tried to disturb by
waging war against the Government to
which he owes his education and allegiance
and life. He has already violated this
promise in numerous instances when his
inordinate vanity induced him to make q
public display of himself, or when his ire
pressible desire to keep alive the embers of
rebellion betrayed him into an unwarranted
assumption of selfimportance. Now it
seems that he is willing, "ex-President'' of
a great nation" as he claims to be, to rank
himself with the bull-calves, sucking pigs,
exaggerated pumpkins, distended beats and
homemade quilts which the worthy farm
ers of Winnebago county, and their wives,
will send to Rockford next month for ex-
hibition. We refrain from extending this
comparison to include water-proofs, hoop
skirts and water pals for an obvious reason;
but we may add without fear of violating
the truth that his scrawny limbs, stopped
shoulders, bony fingers and shriyeled face,
all combining TO form the perfect physical
embodiment of disappointed reasonable
hopes, will possibly add an attractive though
revolving interest to this big show. The
people will stare at him eagerly. and divide
their criticisms of the affair between the
man who starved their friends and relatives
in Southern prison pens or killed them and
MANNED them in battle and the prize merino
rams.
I Across the river, in Wisconsin, opposite
Rockford, lies Rock county, the banner
Republican county of the Union. The
Republican voters outnumber their oppo.
nents there five to one. Other truly loyal
counties of the two States will, like Rock
be almost within reach of the echoes of his
voice, and in all of them there are ever
lasting monuments to his treason. Desc
lated fresides, widows, weeds and father
less children, friendships and business re-
lations destroyed, and the cold marble of
the tombstones rising over the graves of
numberless Union soldiers, will attest the
manner in which this man attained the IN
enviable prominence which seems not to
have been considered when he was selected
as one from among millions, who are more
capable, to deliver this address. It must
BE remembered that he is man, too, who
is still under indictment for treason, liable
to be arrested for trial at any moment and
on bail for an offense for which his life
might pay forfeit-an example of the len
iency of the people and the Government
against which his treason has been abund-
antly proved. He is the man, too, who on
the 22d of December, 1863, at Richmond,
Va, affixed his name to the following doc
ument, thereby adding to his crime of
starving helpless prisoners, the infamy Of
boldly assuming to violate, without just
provocation, all the laws of civilized war
fare:
"Ordered, That all commissioned officers in
the command of Benjamin T. Butler be de-
clared not entitled to be considered as soldiers
engaged in honorable warfare, but as robbers
and criminals deserving death; and that they,
aud each of them, be, whenever captured, re-
served for execution. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
'signed and sealed at Richmond, Va, Dec.
%, 1863"
He is also the man who, at later date,
February 6, 1866, declared his treason in the
following boastful manner:
s:Mr. Lincoln speaks of the United States
and the Confederacy as ,'our afflicted country.
] have never failed to refer to them as dis
tinct Governments, and sooner than we should
ever be reunited again, would be willing to
Weld up everything have on earth, and, If 1t
were possible, would sacrifice my life thousand
times before would succumb. My friends,
A. IL A. a. a.,
will compel the Yankees, In less than twelve
months, to sue for peace on our own terms. i"
But what can be said of the trucking
sycophants and trifing miscreants who
have thus attempted to confer honor upon
such mani Have they so soon forgotten
those facts of his career that we have briefly
outlinedf or are they 80 meekly forgiving
as to be willing to sacrifice their manhood
and patriotism in paying tribute to one
who, more than all Others, is responsible
for the manifold woes of the civil strife,
the effects of which have only begun to
disappearf Or, are they earnestly intent
upon making treason and traitors respected
and respectableS Nowhere in the annals
of the history of any civilized people can
another such. revolving spectacle be found.
The honest loyal mind shrinks from the
contemplation Of it with shudder Of su.
preme disgust and unconsciously turns
back to the incidents of the war in simple
amazement that such thing could occur
In an enlightened country. In the South,
among his personal followers and the men
who were guilty of the same crime with
him, such q proceeding might be tolerated;
but that Northern community, in loyal
State, should be cursed by his polluting
presence is an idea that win shock the cal
loused sensibiities ofeven the most obdurate
Gushef. The spirit Of reconciliation is a
commendable one, and. deserves to be
cherished Is the only resource Of lasting