The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-07

JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The death Of Mr.. Davis, although
fully expected, has caused thrill OF
profound sorrow 10 run from one emu
Of the South to the other. However
men may have differed with him land
who conld have been as firm in his con-
nections rs he was without exciting
enmities and antagonisms) all must rem
der him a mournfui homage now tha'
he il but an illustrious memory, hal
lowed and exalted by all that the most
unconquerable spirit, the purest pa
triotism. the most immovable integrity
the most cultivated, discriminating and
powerful intellect can confer.
The most distinguished figure IN
America. because that around when
the most brilliant and numerous nus
toric associations clustered, has gone 10
ioin that invisible yet speaking oano
of American statesmen whose WORDS
and acts directed and shaped the course
OF events contemporary with their
lives. Great as many OF these states
man were. there was hardly oneamong
them more richly endowed with natu-
raj and acquired gifts than the great
man lust added to their ghostly ranks.
His name will forever be invested with
a pathetic interest which the names Of
none Of them share.
He was the prs-eminent civil leader
of the greatest Of all civil wars and
when the cause which he represented
sank into irrevocable ruin. he renamed
TO his very last breath true to It's princi-
ples. and loyal to its good name in spite
of ieers and obIoquy and criticism lie
continued. in his sublime isolation, to
be the exponent of that cause, standing
in lonely grandeur, thevery incarnation
of that ConfedeTacy which had passed
into history, but which TO him was az
vital as if it still survived, because be
believed its principles to be as perma-
nent as republican government ITSELF
Concentrating in his own person all
that remained Of that national organi-
cation which he had headed, cut OIL
from citizenship by the malignant and
interchangeable hatred of the Republican
party, pursued by calumny and
bounded by all that was mean, narrow
and ungenerous, his proud spirit, con-
scious of its strength and integrity.
could neither be dismayed nor con
auered. Like the noble stag surrounded
by yelping and merciless enemies
ready to drag him down, he stood un-
daunted and resolute to defend him
self.
There is no man in history who bore
the same relation to the people whom
he had served as he did. kossuth'
after the failure Of his cause, became
an exile who was no longer identified
with the land of his birth. Davis re-
NAMED on his native soil, though dis
francmsed, and made the target of all
those evil passions which secession had
aroused in those who had successful
ly opposed it with force of arms.
But herein consists his historic
glory. The most sublime fact of his
career is that his identity with the
lost cause concentrated upon himself
the savage dislike that would have
otherwise been wholly expended
upon the people whom he had repre-
scented. He had to suffer vicariously
for the supposed sin of the whole South
in leaving the Union. lie was the scape-
coat for the alleged crime Of great
people in establishing government OF
their own. There was something inf
nitely touching, as well as infinitely
noble, in this representative character
which he bore. The South, while one
spark OF patriotism survives in the
breasts Of her sons, can never forget
this. She should remember to the re-
hottest ages what he suffered for her
sake and for the cause that she had
upheld and which she willalwayshonor.
Strangest of historical spectscles \
man without single privilege Of citi-
zenssip, and yet enshrined in the
hearts of millions Of countrymen, re-
spected and admired and revered He
outlived that generation of remarkable
men whose names will always be asso-
ciated with his. Lee and Jackson, Ben
iamin ana Toombs and Stephens, on the
Confederate side, and their mighty OPP |
posers. on the Federal, Lincoln aud |
Grant aud Chase and Sheridan, have all /
passed into that silent land where there
is no war aud no political differ
ences. At last, Jefferson Davis,
who has fingered long, veneer
able figure Of past age, has Joined
them. The greatest Of the survivors
OF the Confederacy is no more. Around
the spot where his remains will be COM
mitted 70 the earth the whole South
will gather in thought on the occasion
OF his obsequies to pay mournful
tribute TO one Of the very nobiest,
Iruest and greatest Of her sons. Thither
a future years, all who este EN- loftiness
IF character. honor adherence TO con
,iction. revere patriotism and admire
,enius Of the highest order, will fre-
Iuently repair TO renew their love Of
ountry and respect for principle at the
rave of him whose name shall be- i'm
,ortal.