Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-08-18
The jeff Davis Invitation.

A letter from our Rockford cores
pondent, which should have appeared
yesterday, shows that the excessively
modest gentlemen who invited JEFF
Davis to Winnebago County have
raised breeze that is likely to prove
excessively troublesome. The patriot
ic people of that county do not propose
to be sold out by any meddlesame of1ic-
ial, and are speaking their minds in a
manner that cannot be misunderstood
The soldiers, the farmers, the manufac.
turers and bushes men in all parts of
county take this invitation as person
al insult, and declare they will With
draw from all participation in the fair
If the engagement is not cancelled.
We publish also an editorial from the
Rockford Gazette, and one from the
Rockton Herald, condemning in un-
measured terms this scandalous attempt
to exalt the chief of the rebellion. All
honor to old Winnebago! The Inter-
Ocean did not believe her people would
calmly consent to this outrage, and
right glad are we to see that we were not
mistaken The otfense of the Secret ia
ry-one Kimball-of the society is
doubly intensified by his contemplate
advertisement in the Rockford Gazette,
wherein he asserts that the war was
brought about by the North, and by
implication, therefore, that Jeff Davis
was an innocent man, simply defending
his own! We should expect that one
who would invite such a man to lecture
the people of Winnebago would sup
plement his invitation by defense of
the arch-traltor's wal record, and we
are not surprised, therefore, to see the
one follow the other. The people of
Winnebago County will doubtless en-
deavor to dispense with the services Of
a gentleman who thus adds insult to
injury. As we said the other day, Mr..
Jefferson Davis is at perfect liberty to
visit the North, speak as often and as
bitterly as he chooses; to take up his
residence here if he wishes, with the
assurance of perfect liberty and securi-
ty. But when Northern community
so far forgets itself as to honor this
man, invite him among them as pub
lie teacher, place him on pedestal to
be admired, and to be pointed at as one
who is thus courted because he proved
false to his country, then it is time to
protest and denounce the shameful act.
For there is no other reason for invit.
ing JEFF Davis except this. IF be had
not been the eminent rebel, the chief
traitor, the incarnation of disuniou, be
would never have been invited to Rock.
ford. Because be is such he has been
.ought! This cannot be denied, and it
is enough to make the blood of the
people of that country warmer even
than it now is. If the committee are
wise they will cancel this engagement
If Mr.. Jefferson Dsnis is wise be will
reconsider lis acceptance and decline
to como. If neither can be done, then
let the traitor and bis admirers meet
alone! Let the latter firm his audi
ence, and let the world SEQ bow many
there are in Winnebago County who
can so far forget what they owe them
selves, their children, ard their coun-
try as to do homage to one who for
years waged \ cruel, unprovoked and
merciless war upon them because they
were the defenders of their country's
fag.-Inter Ocean, Aug. IA.