The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-12-20
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

The death of JEFFERSON DAVIS ends
most remarkable chapter of history.
1t finishes the story of the most strenu-
Gus conflict that ever occurred in the
world, the conflict which most vitally
affected the future of the human race.
The closing lines of that chapter could
not be written while he lived. He was
too predominantly identified with its
events for that to be.
He was the intellectual leader of the
movements which resulted in war
against the Union, undertaken in the
sincere conviction of its necessity as
means o. preserving the liberties which
the Union represents.
He was the chosen chieftan of the
new Republic which strove TO establish
ITSELF and whose adherants battled for
its existence with heroism the memory
OF which is everywhere cherished ss
one that does honor to the American
character and name. Against him
alone of all who participated in the
war was the charge of Treason rought.
He alone was imprisoned. He was the
only one who refused to renew his
allegiance, and he died without accept
ing proffered amnesty. His attitude
was thus made peculiar by circumstan-
ces and by his own choice. But it was
peculiar also by reason of the except
ional way in which he was regarded
by the public.
To the very last he was denied the
generous consideration extended to all
the other leaders of the Lost Cause.
His acts and motives have never had
the charitable Interpretation given to
those of his associates.
All the other Southeran leaders have
been judged to be sincere men, though
mistaken-men of patriotic purpose,
misled by false teachings and erring
only through misconceptlon. He has
had no such consideration except at
the hands of half of a few original
Abolitionists of uncompromisinly just
minds. He sacrificed all for the cause
he cherished, and he alone of all the
South has born the cross of mart
yrdom. Upon his sholders fell the
burden of the hate and animosity en-
gendered by civil war.
The other leaders have been held to
have erred; he alone has been condem-
ed as a wilful sinner Now that be is
dead it may perhaps be seen that he
was in like case with all the rest, and
that his memory is entitled to whatever
judgment history may mete out to the
others.
He was man of commanding abil-
ity, spotless integrity, controlling con-
science and temper so resolute that
at times it approached obstinacy. In
his opinions he was doctrinaire who
held infexibly to certain fixed premis-
es of thought and followed his logical
deductions from them with relentless
fidelity, whithersoever the logic might
lead. He was proud, sensitive and
honorable in all his dealings and in
every relation of life.
The key to his career is found in the
two facts that he formed his convic-
tions by the logical processes of the
closet, and that he did what his con-
vcitions dictated with the unhesitating
obedience of the soldier he was bred to
be. The services which he rendered
the country as a statesman in both
branches Of Congress in the antebellum
days, as Secretary of War, and as a
soldier of the Union in Mexico, entitle
him to the kindly remembrance of all
who recognize ability and courage.
His state papers will live in our arch
ives as models.
He is dead in his eighty second year.
1t remains for later generations than
this to give the final Judgment upon
the deeds he did in the dody.- World.