The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-25
Wednesday, Dec. 25, 1889.
At the Funeral is No Place 10 Say
Evil Things of the Dead.


The cranston (R. u Leader, in copying our
editorial notice of the death of Mr.. DAVIS mas
this to say. and we copy 1t, as showing "na'
one Northern newspaper thinks:
"Can It be possible that the South SO keeniy
felt the loss OF an Imbecile old man WHOSE
usefulness as man , ana ci.r%si nnd ioined him
self with other traitors to overthrow lits ~, ~
try? What has he made Tor hinseil H,nt ny 80
doingf What is left to his children: Wmat,
but o name stained with diShonor-tne iiallie i'
of a man who turned on the country ana gov
ernment who protected him, and became
traitor. ,o,, ad,toria, snace
devoted by the newspapers Of the country 10
left Davis. His pame should only be used as
an example of man who tried 10 oetray tnE n
United States OF America, ana, as may a.,
other traitors to this Government, lalleu III
the attempt!"
Some men are great in victory. Others arc
great in defeat.
snccess is always crowned with fame ana
glory. but he who, In defeat commands the
love and veneratlon of his fellow-citizens Is
doubtiy honored and doubtly great.
In the heat of passion, and In the midst oil n
sublime struggle, 1t may have been excusaole
for cross-road politicians to apply such Words
as "traitor" to an honorable foeman, out aI
the funeral Of that foeman, twenty-five years
after he had been vanQuished-and nj the
close of quarter of century OF retirement
from politics,-we submit that 1t is not In
good taste for any newspaper TO apply s"cn
words as "traitor" to him who Is dead. News
papers. It seems to US, should not put IN coid
type, twenty-five years after the fight. the DIT
Ter words which might be excusable In the
midst of q heated contest.
Even admitting that the Southern people
aro all "traitors" could not the CranSton
Leatier find something good to say OF the
dead? NJ D,,,,.,s
Except for the simple fact Of Mr.. DaVls's
sympathy for the act OF secession" we doubt
not that the Cranston Leader itself would
have accorded to Mr.. Davis and honorable
burial.
Then why seek to bring up at his burial
recital of those things which the Leader
thinks are evil9
We seldom speak Ill OF the dead.
Mr.. Dayis's private character is unim-
peached and his fidelity to the cause which
he espoused has never been doubted.
Is there nothing to commend In purity Of
personal character?
Is there nothing to admire In steadfastness
toprinciple7
Would the Leader deny the Southern peo'
pie the right to the expression Of tender 1eel'
ing for their distinguished chieftain, whom
they greatly honor?
The South accorded due honor and respecl
to their honorable foeman.
Did We not-and do we not pow-honor the
memory of Mr.. Lincoln as President, and DO
we not remember General Grants magma
nimity at Appomattox?
In according just honor to distinguished
Northern leaders we sacrifice nothing Of prin
ciple. We merely acknowledge facts.
y We trust. therefore, that the CrGnston Lead
er may reconstruct its views on Southern peo
pie, and Southern "traitors.'
The people OF the South to day are as loyal
to the Government as the people of any Sec
ton.
At the close OF the war, all Of the old sol
diers took the oath OF Allegiance. apd-in &C
cepting that oath the Government 1t was
supposed, granted full and free pardon fol
whatever ofense that Government thought
we had committed.
In no single instance has any Southern cit
izen been false to that oath.
Every Confederate soldier has kept the
faith.
Then, respected contemporary, why taun'
MS with the epithet Of "traitor?"