The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-06-14
The Hopkinsville Republican on
Jefferson DaYis.

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Our esteemed contemporary, tht
llopkinsyille Republican, makes 8
wide mistake IN its though,less AMI
unkina criticism OF x.President Da
Wis. Such random writing may bt
pleasing in tho far North, " hence the
editor ofthe Republican has recently
come, Gut it will not meet the appro.
baton of the people in this section
who are better informed, as 10 the
history ofthe Confederacy' s chieftain
Sixteen years ago The cause OF which
Mr.. Davis was the central head
backed by millions OF brave, stout
hearts, was lost. The people who fol.
lowed MIR Davis 10 defeat put aside
the din of battle and at once went
about building mp their broken for.
tunes and restoring order ont of con
fusion. becoming again part of the
Federal Government. We need cay
nothing of the long night Of recon-
struclion, or the carpet. bag rule
through which they were compelled
TO pass; how, one by one, the States
were allowed to cbn.e back into tho
Union, and how, one by one, the 20,
lilical disabilities of the leaders Of the
Lost Cause were removed. In all
these things Jefferson Davis has
played no part Of "agilator," as the
Republican seems to think. The
Governmenthas refused to recognize
him us ono of its citizens, and he is
to-day a chieltain without country.
Ii any act OF his has stood ont more
prominently than tho rest, IL has been
his persistent and always emphatic
refusal to take any part whatever IN
politics. The Republican perhaps
does not know That Jefferson Davis.
in his own State, is almost idolized Dy
his people. That more than once,
by simply saying the word, he could
have been elected to the United States
Scnatc, whether admitted or not 10
that body. But be preferred to take
no part in politics. lie could to-day
have any office in the gift of the peo-
pie that he wanted, such is the love
aud admiration in which lie is held
in Mississippi. Years ago ho frequently
left the privacy OF his home to make
speeches before industrial exhibitions,
doing what he could 10 foster and ell.
courage such enterprises. Even in
this work he was carped ut and Bit
tcrly criticised By the ultra Republic
can press. The bare announcement
TINT he had been invited TO make a
speech OH one Of these occasions, or
to address the pupils of some ednca-
tional institution vf the country was
enough TO create a howl against him
all along the line. lie was not un-
mindful OF these discussions, and lie
gradually withdrew entirely from
public life aud spent his time In writ
ing a history Of the cause tor which
he had spent the best years Of his lie.
lie had nothing TO expect from any
future career, and his ouly hope was
to submit faithful record OF the
stirring times in which he had acted
TO the conscientious Judgment Of pos.
tcrity. That he has written this re-
cord is doubtless the cause of the Re-
publican's charge of "agi,ator." If
our neighbor will lay aside his preju-
dice and study the truthful history of
Jefferson Davis life since The war, lie
win find nothing that will not chal-
lenge hisrcspec. and admiration. AS
to the privilege OF writing his obitu-
airy and the pleasure Of tho task, he
can certsinly content himself few
wears longer, for Mr.. Dayis Is now in
the 73rd year of his agc, aud in the
course Of nature viii ere long put
aside the armor OF life, giving our
friend OF the Republican o rhauce TO
pursue him even beyond the grave.
We give IN another column tho whole
article of the Republican. Our read-
ers will find 1t we'll adapted to North
ern extreme sentiment, but they will
not be ready, by any moans, 10 say
that such a sentiment shall find a
Judgement iu the South -1'oLacco
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