The Dawson journal., 1886-05-06
The Ovation 10 Nr. nayis.

The event of the past few days
has been the remarkable tribute
of respect and affection given by
the people of Georgia and Ala
bama to Mr.. jefferson Davis, the
only president of our Southern
Confederacy. The recipient of
these honors is in every way wor-
thy of them. In character he has
been pure and blameless; in abili-
ty, great and grand; IN active life
and successful career, true to duty
and distinguish | in achievement;
in defeat and ostracism, manly an
noble. Two of the worlds great
est men have suffered defeat --Bo-
naparte and Davis. The one fail
ell in his plans of selfish ambition
the other in defense of the SIN
cere convictions Of his soul. They
were both exiled from public life.
! The first was banished to the
rocky coasts of Helena, and fret
ted away the remainder of his
life In ruin, unrest and bitter dis
appointment. The second, after
the frigid sufferings Of Fortress
Monroe, has lived in dignifed re-
tirement and happy resignation
on the free plantations of Missis-
sippi. The first is lesson of the
just punishment of unholy ambi-
ton; the second a noble model of
greatness and worth, unsucces5-
full, but victorious over failure,
contempt and disappointment.
The one lived for self; the other
for others.
1t is well for our people to pay
Mr.. Davis this honor. He de-
serves it. He reigns in the hearts
of his people. Better let him
know it now in the moments of
his loneliness and age than to
speak it in vain eulogy after he
has gone to that home wl,/fe
earthly sympathy, justice and
honor is of no worth. Surely no
noble mind can begrudge noble
Davis this tribute. Surely the
true men and women of the North
as we'll as the South can rise for
once above sectional hate and po-
litical animosity and join in hon
oring genuine nobility of charac-
ter, even though it be exhibited
in the person of a defeated chief
tain. The South, we are proud
to say, has not been actuated by
SO mean a principle. 1t has re-
cognized worth and ability even
In our enemies, and has withheld
no deserved honor from any of
the heroes of the other side. We
hope that like magninimity may
be shown by the North in this
moment of spontaneous tribute
paid to one hero.
The principles for which Davis
fought hive been settled. 1t can
do no good to reopen the discus
sion. Our country has present
and future questions of great mo-
ment to engage it's attention. Let
US not be directed from the duty
of the present hour. Davis, Lee,
jackson, and the other noble
braves proved themselves great
by their faithfulness to the con-
viction of their hearts, and the
questions that needed then solu-
tion. Let us initiate them not by
reopening the wounds of the past
and fighting the battles of the
buried, but by thinking out the
convictions that should control us
III our altered state and throwing
ourselves into the fray with the
courage and ability Of our fathers,
Davis was great, not because the
opinions he held were true or
eternal, but because the courage
he displayed in defnding those
opinions, an the unselfshness he
manifested fo wha5 he consider
ed right are the elements OF a
character that shall outlive de.
bates, battles, governments and
worlds. His character is immor.
tai.
WATERMELON patches are nov
mora r1rOn1iciOo,. oFarT. o,,> 49, /