The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-06
MR.. DAVIS AND THE UNITED STATES
SENATORSHIP,

Some Of the Democratic papers OF Mlssis- |
sipp1 have recently spoken OF the illustrious |
ex-Presldent Of the Confederacy az q worthy |
and proper man to be elected to the United |
States Senate from their State, whereupon
the Republican papers, with such bitter and
interruptions sectional sheets as the Chicago
Times, dashed themselves Into q noble fury.
They not only poured out the inexhaustible
Walls Of their abuse upon the Mississippi De-
mocracy, they also arraigned the whole
people Of the South, and this whirlwind OF gee
tlonal wrath gathered around and broke In
fresh and especial fury upon the whitened
head OF the venerable sage who is living
quietly in transformations retirement on the
gulf, at Mississippi City.
Some days ago we ventured mildly to remon-
strate against this brutality and folly; this
fierce and unciyilized exhibition OF sectional
hate and meanness. We expressed the belief
that Mr.. Davis did not desire the post In con-
nection with which the affection OF the Missls
sippians had mentioned his name. But, dis
claiming any knowledge Of his views or feel
ings In the matter, we stated very positively
that the people Of the South did not desire his
election to the Senate. We said:
The Southern people would sincerely regret
to see Jefferson Davis returned % the United
S1ases seha.e.
Mr. Davis was the head and front. the chief
belongs to that period OF the history Of the ely
ilized world. and all It's events, civil and mill
tary; all its statesmen and soldiers. al It's poll
splendid picture In modern history than tina. OF
which Jefferson Davis is the central figure; The
Southern people DIG not desire to gee MT. Davis
grand scene and picture; BY returning TO active
political life be can add nothing, to hts fame,
and detrc spmehinE tdo M
hold him.
We saw nothing In these brief paragraphs
to excite the loyal Ire OF the Republican press.
Indeed, we Intended them to allay the fears
and terrors Of the Republican party, not to
excite their pugnacity. Protesting that
we did not desire to return Mr. Davis to
the Senate, we thought that, as fourteen years
Of peace interviewed between the close OF the
war and the present, we might be allowed
the poor privilege Of expressing our esteem
and affection for the quiet old man who was
the head Of the cause which all our people
had followed and fought for. We honestly
believed that the war or the States was one Of
the grandest historical events OF the world
and no one will deny that Mr. Davis was at
least one OF the central figures Of that war
But we were egregiously mistaken. Ac-
cording to the law OF the Republican party it
is rank treason to entertain any such views;
and, If the Chicago Times Ia good authority,
to breathe the name OF Jefferson Davis with
respect, or to mention the Confederacy with
out cursing it az a hell-born monstrosity and
LoI fcru and HI
rebels, who ought to praise "the nation"
because we are permitted to live, Is to threat
en- the Union and imperil the foundations OF
the Republic.
Aroused to furious wrath, the New York
G1aphic has illustrated our article by full
page cartoon. This specimen OF malignant
art represents historical picture Of which
Mr. Davis ID the central figure. The ex-Presi-
dent OF the Confederaey is represented as
standing upon vast pyramid Of the skulls Of
Union soldiers waving butcher knife, while
a vast multitude OF ruffians, Ia slouched hats,
brandishing six-shooters, shotguns and
Bowie knives with "Yazoo" printed all over
them, are shouting and dancing around the
picture with enthusiasm. Under this shah
billy executed cartoon La printed these words:
There is no more splendid picture In mod
ern history Inan .nas OF MI Snnen yenersnn LAYS
For this miserable malevolent and wretch
eddy executed exhibition Of loyal idiocy, we
care nothing. The Graphic is q scurvy sort
of sheet, and Its efforts to pander to the
meaner passions OF human nature would be
amusing we're they not disgusting.
But the manner In which the Chicago Times
has seen proper to treat our remarks with
reference to Mr.. Davis and the United States
seratorship is simply disgraceful. It opens
virulent attack upon the DEMOCRAT by de-
nouncing 1t as the organ OF the Yazoo Democ-
racy, and then, with an effrontery which
makes q truthful man shudder, boldly and
unequivocally declares that the DEMOCRAT
is advocating and pressing the election
Of Mr.. Davis to the Senate The
attack OF the Chicago paper upon
the DEMOCRAT Is based on the article In our
columns from which the preceding quotations
were made. The reader will perceive that the
Times has impudently misstated our utter
ances and our views. That that paper has
been guilty of deliberately printing q false
hood for the dastardly and disgraceful pur-
pose OF firing the Northern heart" no one
who reads what the DEMOCRAT said and what
the Chicago Times affirms 1t said can for q
moment doubt.
We respect and esteem Mr.. Davis, and II
we thought the circum stances were such that
his large abilities and experience in public
life could exert their full weight In the coun-
sells OF the Union, and that he could serve his
people better than any other citizens Of Mis-
sissippi, we should not fear or hesitate to
say SO. But we think differently. We do not
believe that Mr.. Davis could accomplish any
thing for the Union, or for Mississippi
or for himself, In the Senate. 1t he were
to speak there with the wisdom OF god
and the eloquence of an archangel, bis
words would only excite bitterness, hostility,
fierce denunciation and strife. Hence we be-