Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-05-08
THE HOWL ABOUT JEFF DAVIS.

was DrOugnJ lOrn Dy TIC simple Iacb
that Jefferson Davis was the central fig
IRE of the occasion and that an enthusi-
astic greeting was given the ex-Presi-
dent of the Confederacy.'
Neither the dedication OF the Confed-
crate monument nor the speech OF Gen.
Gordon could have produced this Juror
but for Mr.. Davis presence. Nothing
Mr.. Davis said would in itself have so
fired the Northern heart but the fact
of his being the recipient Of public
honors from Southern people must
needs arouse both the ire and resent
ment of these over loyal Republicans.
The hate which some Northern peo-
pie entertain for Mr.. Davis is fanatical.
The effort-to invest him personally with
the odium they would attach to what
they are pleased to term "the REBEL
ion," is justified neither by common
sense nor the facts OF history, and can
not be perpetuated.
An English historian has aptly re-
marked that as the Crimean war
was brought about by difference in
the Interpretation of a clause in the
ancient treaty of Kutchuck Kainarii so
the war between the States was produc-
ed by difference in the Interpretation
Of the Federal constitution. This is
the verdict posterity will render. There
will be no stupid endeavor in another
generation to cast odium on Jefferson
Davis as "the author and leader of the
rebellion"
Davis is no more OF traitor than
Longsreet, Malone or Mosby whom
these Republicans have delighted to
honor. He is no more unrepentant
than Joe Johnson and Buckner who
were pall-bearers at the funeral of Gen.
Grant. This spasmodic squeamishness
whenever his name is mentioned is,
therefore, i'll affected.
That so much objection should have
been made to the demonstration at
Montgomery was especially in bad taste
That was an occasion sacred to the dead
past. Mr.. Davis and Gen. Gordon
spoke with the flag Of the Union flying
above them and the universally Of the
national colors throughout the city Of
Montgomery, bespoke the loyalty that
mingled with the enthusiasm of the
people over the reception of the chosen
chief of the cause they once so fondly
followed.
Gen. Gordon was prodigal and lavish
in the eufogies he pronounced on the
bravery ofnorthern soldiers, while extol-
ing the heroism of those who fought for
the South. The whole thing was a me-
mortal meeting. Mr.. Davis is a con-
spicuous relic of the Confederacy and
the honor shown him was meant as an
honor to the memory of those who had
died in the Confederate cause. 1t was
in extreme bad taste in these Republi-
cans to snarl because the South did
honor to her dead.
Mr.. Davis probably clings too much to
the old State Sovereignty doctrine that
made him a secessionist, but in this he
NO way represents the South of to-day
which has fully accepted the logic Of
events. In this regard he is only one
individual and his opinions rank as
those of man from the masses. 1t is
as the representative of the past alone
that he is honored. The Southern peo-
pie have not and never will forget or
regret the past. They accepted the
results of the war in good faith without
any fawning acknowledgement that
they had been in the wrong. They re-
turned to take their position in the new
Union without regreting that they had
seceeded from the old one. This is all
that the North could ask. 1t is all that
will be given; the Southern people suff-
cred no such subjugation as will make
them whiningly acknowledge them
selves rebels and traitors.
The South is not sulking in silent
resentment or nourishing hopes of flu
ture revenge-there is nothing to be
revenged. She is content with the
record of the horoic struggle she made.
The Southern character is positive and
virile and not disposed to vain ripin-
ings. The rights of the South in the
Union as it now exists, are equal to
those OF any other section and her in
terest in its preservation is as great.
This position she will boldly and man
fully assert.
With slavery abolished, and no desire
for its re-establishment, there could be
nothing to make the South wish sep
aration from the North. The utter
impossibility of renewal of the war
makes the Republican howlers redicu-
lous when they pretend alarm at the
-. al1 ,,,o,, ILL