The South western news. (Dawson, GA.) 188?-1889, 1888-06-13

had more competent and efficien
head than he. No imputation
selfish objects or suhor'iination o
tie public interest 10 partizan p1r
poses WIS ever made against him.
and his recommendations, aud re.
forms while secretary of war were
OF much value to the country.
The sectional troubles of 1860
| having brought about an :rrecon>
ci,ahle estrangemqht between the
northern and southern States, Mr..
Davis, with mosts of tie other
southern senators resigned his po-
sition in Congress in obedience to
the recall of his State. He wss
not al oriGinal secessionist, but re
cognizpd the paramount duty which
he owed to his State and the people
whom he represented, and without
hesitation returned to aid them in
the great struggle against fearful
odds in which they were about to
engage. The Con rress at Mont.
gomerv ele"ted him president OF
the Con eederacv, which position he
held throughout the war, suffering
ut its close lone confinement anil
h rsh treatment as a martyr OF the
"lost cause
1t is not our purpose, nor do we
feel comnetent, either to laud or
censure President Davis high part
in the conduct of war. Suffice it to
say that, in addition to the great
discrepancy between the helIigerent
sections in numbers, equipments,
monetary resources and credit, and
communication with the outside
world, Mr., Davis administration
had to contend Observation-Disclosures
at home, whose opposition interior
ed to some extent both with the
raising Of troops and the procure
ment of needed supplies. The civ.
iIized world must accord to him the
honor of making the nightiest strug.
gle of modern times ag inst a pows
or great V superior in all the tacili>
ties ard means Of carrying on such
war, and ofconducting himself at
IFS close, while a prisoner, and SUBJ
sequently IN TO this tine, with
courage aud dignity BETTING a hero
and statesman.
The caus in which Jefferson Da.
Wis was so prominently engaged was
one whose rrnowu in history de
pended on its success or failure.
Had it succeeded. his name would
have ranked With those of WASH
ington and Bolivar, as the founder
of new nation and the deliverer
of a people rigl fully fighting for
freedom and independence By its
failure he incurs the epiihet of
"rebel," applied as term of re.
proach. But his bearing in defeat
and misfortune entities him to the
respect of unprej udiced men every
where, and to the sympathy ard
love of the people for whom he La
bored and suffered. "Great in his
triumphs, in retirement great" he
calmly awaits the Judgment of a
tribunal hi her than any of this
earth.
And now. after a career 81 full
ofdiStinction and historical renown,
the veteran is about 10 receive, on
his SOth birthday, perhaps the last
testimonial IF the resrect and afiec.
ton of the gu viving soldiers of the
great Confederate struggle. The
Offering which they make will be
presented by his daughter, who was
born during the progress Of the gi,
gantic and bloody conflict, and who
is aptly called "rhe Daughter of
the Confederacy." 1t will be an
occasion OF interest and sympathy
tor the who.e southern people, and
we hope OF respect from those of
the north and who appreciate valor
even i'll defeat, and honor a :ours
age and fidelity which has never
quailed b. tore disaster or proved
recreant to principle aud duty.
Retterments.
The Sparta Ish ,ealite truthfully
says the people should not allow
themselves to forget that the man
who tavors "betterments" for Sens