The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1889-12-14
JEFFERSON DAVIS.


The public expressions of sorrow
in the south over the death Of Jeffer-
son Davis emphasizes the fact that
they still have in their heart Of hearts
slumbering grief for the fate of the
Confederacy. The proclamatioDs of
governors and mayors bring into prom
inence his career as chief of the treas
enable attempt to sever the union OF
the states upon the basis of perpetu-
ating human slavery. Nothing is
mentioned of lis services upon the
victorious battle fields of Mexico, or
his claim to craftsmanship as United
States senator and secretary of war;
but their most eloquent eulogiums are
given to him as the president of the
so-called Confederate states of Ameri-
ca, or as the dead chieftain of the "lost
cause" We have no bitter animosi-
ties toward those who fought in the
ranks of the Confederacy ,and honestly
belieye with the surrender of Lees
army at Appomatox, every feeling of
sectional hatred should be buried so
deeply as to make it impossible to bring
it to life and activity. Nor do we be-
lieve in besmirching the graves or
records of those who have died for
their convictions, however much we
may be convinced they were mistaken
in their conduct. But death should not
lie made the apotheosis of those
who, during their lifetime, were not
entitled to lasting honors. As presi-
dent of the dead Confederacy,J j efferson
made almost fatal bluuders, and in
more instances than one protracted
the fruitless war to an unnecessary
length. Our own lamented Lincoln
would have ended the fratricidal war
years before if Davis would have ac
cepted honorable terms of compromise.
Instead of which he manifested the
intensest mallgnity towards the govern
ment, and, when the armies of the
Confederacy were defeated in every
quarter and the Union forces were
within few hours march of Rich
mond. his own capital, ordered gen.
eral conhagration of the warehouses
on the James, and by the destructive
light of the accumulation of years of
active and honest industry, attempted
his escape in disguise, leaving his own
people to the mercy Of the conqueror.
There are no acts Of Jefferson Davis
as president of the Confederacy to en-
title him to lasting respect as states
man or as military hero. Robert E.
Lee followed his state, lead the Con-
federate armies to victories on many
battlefelds, and when be surrendered
to Grant was more solicitous of the
welfare of his soldiers than of his own.
He pledged soldiers word of loyalty
and never violated his plighted faith.
He was hero, although he fought in
u wrong cause. Jefferson Davis was
not native of Mississippi. had no
family traditions to follow like those
of the Lees, and was no hero in any
sense Of the term. The south may
honor him as gallant Mexican Off
Ger, as O former U. s. senator and
secretary Ct war; Lut as nation
character the future historian will not
place him in the list of heroes or ex-
emplary citizens of the republic. The
treason of Benedict Arnold was more
vicious, of Aaron Burr more ma
licious and with less excuse, but the
name of jefferson Davis must be
linked with those who sought to sub
vert the supremacy of the government
by force of arms, and in doing so vio-
lated the oath he had taken to support
the constitution of the United States.
The dispatches say Miss Caldwell
has not broken her engagement to
Prince Murat. The preliminaries are
still in the hands of the princes attor-
neys, who desire "mere baeatelle"
Of $4,000 a year for his expenses,
and mere matter Of SIN all advance
of half million to settle his indebted |
ness. These foreign princes place
high value on their titles, and know
how to guage their demands by the
duplicity of their dupes.