The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-08
JEFF DAvIs.IsM.


son Davis proves to be a canard, just as the
Journal thought it was, and for that reason
declined to publish it. The sentiments as
cribed to Davis were astounding, in that they
limited of decency and an approach to some
thing like patriotic magnanimity, of which
latter he has not been chargeable during the
past quarter of century But the report
presented occasion that could not be
missed by the Democratic press Could lam
guage express more of sympathy and regard?
| was the query. 1t possessed "the ring of true
manhood and noble, personal spirit" So it
did; but it was not the language of Davis.
The Sentinel seizes upon it to gush over the
scolding old man, and says:
"Driven from place and power to the OBJ
security of private life, and banished from par
ticipation in public affairs in which he was so
conspicuous figure into an isolation almost
as complete as that of Napoleon at ST. Helena,
it would not have been surprising if Jefferson
Davis had become soured man, cherishing
malice against the leader of the hosts that ac-
complished his overthrow. But this letter
shows him not to be that creature of disap
pointment and hate some would make him
out. Whatever he may have done in the
years long gone, the emotion that welled from
the heart of General Grant when reading Mr..
Daviss utterances of sympathy will soften
many Northern heart toward the gray haired
and faltering ex-confederate who must soon
follow the illustrious soldier to whom he has
written so feelingly beyond the tide where
political animosities are forgiven and for
gotten"
Other friends and admirers of Davis, as
might have been expected, have utilized this
imagined fact to eulogize him as man actu-
ated only by the best motives, cherishing no
resentment, but exercising the noblest charity
toward his former opponents in arms. From
this it is argued that Mr.. Davis has been
causelessly abused during the past quarter of
a century; that instead of being man of
bitterness, Of vindictive hatred, he is in truth
an admirable character, a patriot, a martyr to
unreasoning hatred; and so on for quality
The absurdity of such conclusion is apparent
to everybody not saturated with the meanest
prejudice possible to men capable of reason
ing The feeling against Jefferson Davis is
not based on objections to his personal quail
ties, but on the unpatriotic and dangerous
doctrines he nurses so assiduously. He is
justly held in contempt at this later day be-
cause of the fact that he seems to have
learned nothing from the awful expe-
rience of civil war, and has for
gotten and forsaken none Of the old
prejudices which brought about that most
stupendous crime, the Rebellion. He was
more than rebel, he was traitor; and let
those who would take exception to this term
ing In his treason, however, he was not
alone; but for years he has stood practically
alone in Extensively adhering to those doc
trines and beliefs, the acceptance of which
must make our Union temporary arrange
ment, to be dissolved at the caprice of any con-
siderable portion of it. For twenty years JEFF
ferson Davis has never lost an opportunity to
proclaim his abiding belief in the righteous
ness of rebellion. While scores and hundreds
of other prominent men in the Rebellion have
gone back to their places as citizens Of COM
mon country, and have renewed broken al
legiance, with every evidence of sincerity, Da-
Wis and few others have stubbornly and
meanly held on to the doctrine that died at
Appomattox twenty years ago tomorrow. 1t
| is this fact that has kept him in contempt all
this time; and instead of feeling the shame of
his condition, Davis has apparently gloried in
what he has chosen to regard as martyrdom.
The North has no quarrel with Southerners
as Individuals except so far as they maintain
an attitude hostile to the interest of the peo-
pie and to the perpetuity of public institu-
| TONS Jefferson Davis would have been well
coined back, with those others who violated
their oaths to support and defend the Consti-
tuition, had he ever given any evidence of hav-
| ing abandoned those ideas which carried the
South into an indefensible war. Mr.. Davis,
| important as he was to the Confederacy, and
influential as he was in carrying his people
into rebellion, has long since lost that impor-
lance that would warrant the North in hating
him. The feeling now is one of contempt for
him because of his puerility, and the most
unqualified condemnation of his doctrines.
The question of American citizenship is a
simple one to all who would understand it.
There is common country, or there is not;
we are loyal to it, or we are not Mr.. Davis
has maintained the negative of both PROPOSE
tons. So far as we know, he has not given
utterance to an unqualified loyal sentiment