New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-26
&" THE Old HEROS

Tn his recent speech to the editors OF
Mississippi, Mr.. Jefferson Davis observed: 81
"have never yet seen Southern woman re-
coustructed.n 1t is recorded that his remark
was received with" uprOarious applause" As
there was nothing particularly new, brilliant
or witty in the observation thus received, 1t
must be that the editors assembled were re-
ioicing because the women Of the South had
so steadfastly maintained those sentiments to-
ward the Union which precipltated the South
ern States into rebellion. The assembage of
editors, after this speech, manifested great
enthusiasm" and everybody" it is re-
corded, accepted the invitation of the presi-
dent "to come forward and shake hands with
"the old hero" Men by whom jefferson Da-
Wis is regarded as an cold heron would not
unnaturally rejoice because the women of the
South still cling to the cause which Davis
represents. It was not strange, therefore, that
the specially applauded essay read at this
meeting of editors Was by Major
George w. Harper an Editor of The
Ok0ioaa States-the newspaper which made
itself so conspicuous recently by re-
peated declarations that the Southern re-
beihon was not dead, but would yet triumph.
Ii can hardly be said that this association of
the editors of Mississippi does not represent
the prevailing opinion of the people of that
State. In fact, it would be folly to suppose
that these editors, as a body, do not reflect as
closely as they can the public opinion around
them. What they are, Mississippi iS-its black
vote being virtually suppressed. The white
people of Mississippi, as body, halls Mr..
Davis as an "Old hero" rejoices that the wo-
men are still devoted to the cause which he
represents, and believes that this cause will
yet triumph.
Well, what of it Is there any occasion for
alarm The Union was able to put down
Mr.. Davis and his supporters when they had
great armies in the field; has the Union any
reason TO fear them nOw7 Not so long as
they are not trusted with tho government of
the country which they tried to destroy.
But would it not be foolish to intrust to men
of such opinions and feelings the govern
ment and the defence and maintenance OF
the Unionf If it should 50 trust such men,
would not the Union deserve to be broken up
and bIotted out Of existence, for that act of
reckless follyf
Mr. Davis and his supporters constitute the
Democratic party of Mississippi. But why
should we say "of Mississippi" alonef What
difference has ever been discovered between
these Democrats and those of any other
Southern STATED In all the Southern States
alike Mr.. Davis is welcomed with an intense
feeling which there is nothing in the man or
his acts to Justify. The South has many
ADLER, more eloquent. and worthier men; many
who possess in higher degree those traits
which give personal popularity. But Mr.
DAVIS is regarded throughout the South as
the especial representative of Lost Cause"
which certain men and nearly all the women
of the South insist is not yet lost. Precisely
the same spirit which MIR. Davis mentions in
Mississippi may be seen in the women of any
other Southern State, they "are not recon-
"sructed,n but feel toward the Union just as
they felt when their husbands and lovers,
their fathers and brothers and sons. were
riskng their lives in struggle to dismember
the Union. AZ for the editors. are not they