The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-20
From the Nelr York Herald.
Jefferson Davis and His Northern
Visit.

Some time since the committee of the
Winnebago County Agricultural Fair, in
Illinois, invited Jefferson Davis to visit the
fair and deliver an address. Mr.. Davis
accepted this offer in graceful and court
eous letter, saying that it would afford
him great pleasure to visit country that
he had not seen since it was a wilderness.
As soon as the announcement was made
there were many expressions of indigna-
ton on the part of those truly loyal men of
the north who regret that the war ended
before the destruction of every citizen in
the south. We learned from Chicago that a
meeting was held at Rockford, ILL.,, by the
Grand Army of the Republic, at which re-
solutions were passed to the effect that it
was an insult to the loyal citizens of Win
nebago to Invite the arbitrator jeff
Davis to address the relatives and surviv-
friends of thirteen thousands men murder
ed at Andersonville alone by his orders. ~
They say, furthermore, that they will not
attend the fair nor do anything toward
making it success If the Board brings
forward this arbitrator and coward"
When we heard that Mr. DAVIS had &C
cepted the invitation to visit Illinois and
deliver an agricultural address we were
part of the farmers of Illinois to invite
Mr.. Davis. 1t was courteous thing for
the ex president of the Confederacy to ac-
cept it. A good deal Of bitterness that be-
longs to the recent war uDjustly centres
around the person of Mr.. DAVIS. This
movement of the Grand Army of the Re-
public is an illustration of this injustice. If
Jefferson Davis is an unwelcome guest at
co;r oil
southerner who fought in the war can be
welcomed We do not see where the mem
bers of the Grand Army of the Republic
draw the line between Jefferson Davis and
General Longstreet, unless in this that
Mr.. Davis preferred to cherish the convic-
tons with which he entered the rebellion,
while General Longstreet, with more wis
dom and courage, has accepted the doct-
rines of the republican party. Mr.. Davis
was no more responsible for the rebellion
ia the south than any one of a thousand
other men. In fact, before the war, while
the question of secession was under dis
cussion, he was among the more moderate
of the southern leaders. There were
twenty members and senators in the con
gress which preceded the rebellion more
active than Mr.. Davis in bringing about
uOSllllllCS mOI0 EeSpOuSlulC lOl Viz
result. Mr.. Davis and his colleagues IL
that congress followed public opinion il
the south, and did not lead it. Mr.. Davi:
was put at the head of the ConfederacI
simply because he had more character thar
the most of the southern leaders. Ever
as it was the Confederate congress almOs
elected Mr., Toombs, of Georgia. Thu
election of Davis was the expression of
Al. IL
ern Confederacy AS president of tn
Confederacy Mr.. Davis did his duty as wei
as he knew how. He did what any othe
southern leader would have done in tn
same place. He stood by his post to tn
end. When he fell he fell with the Con
federacy. Therefore, to deal with Mr.. Davi
rs in any way more responsible for the re
bellion than any one Of the cOnspicuou
men Of the south before the war is to d
him great injustice and ourselves dis
credit.
The wisdom Of Mr.. Davis coming into
hostile community to deliver lecture upo
any subject might be questioned. 1t
probably the penalty which he and a
men like him who have held supreme ST
ton in rebellion must pay, that he mu!
accept failure as closing to him any oppol
luDlly lot ulSpldy OF advancement. w
think it would have been gracious thin
for the people of Illinois to have accepte
his act in the spirit which prompted it.
These members of the Grand Army of II
Republic represent only the dismal men
cries of the war; This organization
known to be political and secret in i
character. It's members use their arm
record for selfish political purposes. III
true soldiers of the north and south ha,
forgotten everything of the past except i
glory, and they think only of their opp
nents as chivalrous and brave men. "
never hear of this Grand Army of Il
Republic except when it makes the mi
chief that is taking place in Illinois, TT
business of its leaders seems to be to fs
the expiring flames of civil wrath and di
gently seek offices. An act like tn
in Illinois, this rejection of the kindne
and courtesy of Mr. Davis, will do mo
toward exasperating the south and int
styling the bitterness of feeling which
has long been the aim of patriotic me
without distinction of section or party,
extinguish, than anything that has occurr,
for a long time, There is not a tr,
southern man who took part in the COME
eracy who will not feel that he cannot
welcome in any community which deuou
ces the president of his COnfeaeracy as
arbitrator and coward"