Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-09
HlS CHARACTBR AND WORK


Comment. of Leading Journals on Jsfier-
son Davis Career.
NsW YORK, December S.-FOllOwirg
a-- .ls comments of the leading New York
papers on the character Of Jefferson Davis.
T5s Sar says Mr. Davis for thirty years
has been prominent before the world, and
every act and word has been subject TO the
crucial tes. Of publicity. How well or
nov DO his personality came out Of the or
DEAL it is perhaps TOO soon to state posi-
.7.lv. But this we know certain, that
h. death removes one Of the leading act
o-s 10 one Of the greatest dramss the world
has ever seen.
THE SLAVE OF PRINCIPLE.
The World says the key to his career is
louud in the two facts that he formed his
convictions By the Logical processes Ct the
closet. and that he cid what his con-
vie6ons dictated with the Undertaking
obedience Of the soldier he was bred to be.
The services which he rendered the c0un-
try as a statesman in both branches OF
Congress in the anis-belluin days, as Sec
ret,ry Of War. and 81 "a colder Of the
Union in Mexico, entitle him to the
kindly remembrance of an who recognize
ability snd c0ursge.
True To HIs FAIrH.
The S,m says In his conviction Of
,hs Justice of the cause with which his
asms Is inscpsrably associated Mr. Davis
never wavered I'm affirming the rights OF
a State TO resume its sovereignty be be-
lievsd himself warranted by indisputable
precedenls and sound reasoning, and in
living up to the faith that was in him he
believed that he did his duty. To that
Gith he cluug 81 firmly IN his last hour as
When, nearly thirty years ago, be went
forth from the Senate Of the United States
witha full appreciation Of the significance
Of his solemn leave taking. HispOWers OF
intellect we're undimmed 10 tho end. and
their latest exercise was a vindicatiOn OF
theprinciples for which he had risked his
h.e
NOT AN EXTREMIST.
The Herald SAYS: ellis death marks the
dspsrturs OF one who for nearly q genera
ro1 has possesssd only historical interest
90 The American people, aDd he Is histor-
ieal figure IA far removed from the stern
judgments of the hour IS BolingbrOke or
Put and that thus he will be viewed
hy those who, even under the cruel
pressure Of terrible events, were won't TO
regard t,m as the incarnation Of treasOn
AMI rspine The bitterest opponents OF
Davis have long since relessed hn from
his once unhappy prominence as an aIen-
traitor 90 the ni0n. We know enough OF
the iuner workings Of that movement
which developed into civil war to know that
Davis was not originally So extreme seces-
.ionist that he cherished union hopes long
after Ysecey. Rhett, Toombs and other
Eery associates had become enemies Of the
Republic.
AN EXAMPLE or GENEROSITY.
The Tribune savs. Davis has been for
tesaty-f.ur years the most conspicuous
monument u republics generosity
Educated az public expense at West
Fo1t. e aided the rebellion against the
nation. and yet was msgnaaimously psr'
uttei to reiain the life ne had forfeited.
bat his nature was not capable
90 apprecisti0g such generosity
sei he persisted even TO the
end .n rep-esenling himself as a suffering
utiJr of lost but righteous cause.
There are not many living who realize
aos much this reunited nation sctually
o-.- to the Incompetence and uohtnsss OF
uivs Ia no aspect can Davis be cOnsid-
e-i entitled TO the regard of the Southern
leuc. unless 10 be title 10 their graft
t1ie That be did much 10 plunge them
1n ias terrible struggle and much to
-ia- disastrous