The National tribune., 1884-09-04
JEFF DAVIS AGAIN.

les, and unreasonable antipatbies. There is no
doubt that disappointed ambition was the main
motive that impelled him to advocate seces-
sion, and his successful intrigue for the Presi-
dency of the Southern Confederacy was the
first of that wretched movements misfortunes.
From the first he was source of weakness to
the rebels; his personality could arouse no
enthusiasm among any class, and nothing but
his Identification with their cause prevented
host of enemies manifesting themselves every
whore.
Davis's conduct since the war has been what
might be expected from man of his charac-
ter. 1t has been without dignity or decency
even. Men of larger nature, who were promi-
nently identified with the rebellion, have COM
ported themselves SO as TO win the respect of
the loyal people whom they had offended SO
greatly. For example: Joe Johnston was un-
doubtedly the ablest General the rebels had.
he left the Regular Army and Joined the reb-
els under peculiarly aggravating circumstances
and throughout the struggle inflicted incalcu-
liable harm upon the Union cause. But the
moment he surrendered he accepted the situa-
ton in good faith, and did an immense service
toward the restoration of peace by telling his
| followers that the end of the whole thing was
reached; that they had done all that men
could do to win, but they were beaten, and
badly, and there was no hope of renewal Of
/ the struggle; it would be criminal TO do it.
| They must accept the result This was an i'm
mense help towards restoring general peace.
But JEFF Davis was not big enough to pursue
SO frank, manly, soldierly course. He snarled,
and whined, and posed as a martyr, and talked
about insults and wounds to his feelings when
the people North and South were mourning for
a million of their sons who had been needlessly
| slaughtered to further his ambition and that of
his confederates. Whenever be had an oppor-
tunity he rushed into print with some querul
Gus complaint or groan about the hardships he
had suffered and the wickedness of the Union
people in interfering with his plans to break
up the Nation.
His latest utterance shows less acridity than
usual, but it is still mean and petty to the last
degree. 1t is letter to Reunion of the Con-
/ federate soldiers OF Monroe Co., Ga, held at
Forsyth last week. In it he said:
The annual meeting of the old Confederate sol
diers both pleasant and useful in itself reviving
memories over which disaster could throw no cloud
Of shame and serving to teach the rising generation
the truths for which yon nobiy struggled, is con-
| nected by you with the beneficent purpose Of re-
/ ieving your needy and suffering comrades and
protecting the orphans Of those who sacrificed for
tune in the effort maintain the State sovereignty
4 won by Georgia in the war of the Revolution.
/ Though the States again reunited and all con-
tribute fiji the Treasury of the General Govern
| ment, the funds there collected are only appro-
priaed TO provide for the ex-sodiers Of the North
ern States. The Southern soldier, disabled in war,
and the widows and orphans of those who died,
can only hope for relief from a second tax which
may he voluntarily paid by the people for whom
they fought and who suffered with them. II is not
the least Of your meTitorioUs manifestations that
You meet this discrimination without complaint
and brace yourselves TO bear the double burden
with III feeling the Government for this often
sive favoritism
True. under al the severe trials TO which you
were subjected. il is equally honorable 70 you that
you have accepted the consequences Of defeat and
thereafter gone shoulder to shoulder with all who
striving 70 secure the welfare promote the pros
perity and preserve the honor Of a common coun-
Try. Please present to the members of your asso-
citation the sincere regards and best wishes with
which an ever faithfully your friend
JEFFEEsoS DAvIs
This is about as fun of direct and indirect
falsehoOds as Southern dog is of ieas. In the
first place, the war was not to maintain
Georgia's sovereignty" for she was deprived
Of her sovereignty by the Confederate States to
much greater extent than she was and is by
the United States Constitution
In the next place, Georgia herself won nc
sovereignty by the Revolution She was then
struggling little colony of about 5000 peo-
ple,-including slayes,-and these were largely
Tories. She contributed small contingent to
the Continental Army, but really had very
little hand in the struggle, less even than Yer.
ssnont. 1t is ludicrous to talk of her " winning
anything She tagged along" after the other
colonies, and was admitted into share of the
benefits Of the Confederation.
But the inefably mean thing in the letter is
the attack on the pension system, and the as
: sumption that the rebels are equally entitled
to be cared for by the General Government.
The facts Of history which Davis deliberately
tramples upon, in order to stir up dissatisfac
ton, are these:
/. The country was in profound peace, will
no grievances anywhere, when he and his ac
completes precipitated a most senseless rebel
lion.
2. Some 100000 of the young men of th'
a North, who were engaged in peaceful pursuits
in which they desired TO continue, were taker
away from these and their homes to engage il
desperate and long ng-continued struggle in th,
field
g. They suffered incalculable hardships
wounds and death in this service, by reason o
the desperation of those who were stirred Vi
: by Davis and others to destroy the Govern
ment. They would not have suffered SO ha1
. Davis & Co. not engaged in this rebellion
= 4. Having succeeded in maintaining the Gov
ernment, it is right that they should be in som
measure recompensed by it for what they hav
eufE.red for IL