The Brookhaven leader., 1889-12-12
THE DEAD CHIEFTAIN.

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THE DEAD CHIEFTAIN.
All that was mortal of jefferson
Davis, the great chieftain of the Lost
Cause, was yesterday followed by null
tiplied thousands of all colors, races
and nationalities, to Metairie Cemetery
in New Orleans and laid to rest. The
strong, brave, dauntless spirit which
no misfortune could break or earthly
power cover, is at last at peace.
Mr.. Davis died as he had lived
true to his convictions, true to what
he believed TO be right. Though
granted amnesty by President Johnson
in 1868, with all other Confederates,
he never to the last accepted all It's
privileges. He was accustomed to say
that repentance comes before forgive
ness, and he had never repented.'
Whether this sentiment was wise or
unwise, we will not here discuss. BY
mutual consent, North and South &C
corded to him the office of vicariOus
sufferer for his people, and he accept
ed the position with true Roman
stOicism. Thus he lived and thus he
died.
An admiring friend pays this faithful
tribute to his memory:
"History will yet do justice to a
man of the type of Jefferson Davis.
His character was like one of those
grand peaks, which is made
still greater by distance, and when
the pages of his cOuntry's record are
turned over by unborn millions who
are to consult it they will find no
greater character than was displayed
in the life and the peaceful death of
Jefferson Davis. He was the true
type of a gentleman; brave to a fault,
in fact almost bold to fault. The
courage Ofhis convictions were so firm-
ly rooted that to those who knew little
of his life it seemed like obstinacy,
and many imagined that he displayed
self-well where he only showed firm
ness.
ellis idea of public virtue was that
it had backbone, but among all the
political vices, which, from time to
time, were laid at his door, not his
bitterest OppOnent-for he had no
enemies-ever attributed to him the
weakness which goes by the name of
corruption. Doubtless ..some honest
but unappreciative persons, who mis-
took the scope of his view and consider
ed that differing from them implied
want of wisdom or even lapse of
public integrity, will think, and per-
may say, that Mr.. Davis was exceed
ing wrong, and violated his duty to
his country. But the patient student
of men and manners will cOncede that
nnder all the circumstances of the
case, as they existed in 1860, the
South under her view could not have
made Il better selection for leader
than she did when she called to the
front Mississippi's favOrite son, Jetfer
son Davis"
Memorial services in honor of Mr..
Davis were held yesterday throughout
Mississippi and the entire South.
Here at Brookhaven the Court House
had been suitably decorated and
good sized audience of both sexes
met at II o'clock in response to the
melancholy tolling of the church
bells, and listened to most eloquent
and beautiful memorial address by
DR.. w. B. Murrah. Appropriate
music was furnished by Mrs. Ada Nc
Nair, Mrs. Willoughby, Mrs. Chris
man and others.
Great credit is due Mr.. A. Lewen-
thai, Jr., Chairman of the Committee
on Arrangements, for his successful
management of the affair.
at the conclusion of the exercises
Hon. r. II. Thompson, acting on the
recommendation of the Governor,
called for a contribution from the au-
dience, to be divided between a mon
ument to Mr.. Davis and his widow
and daughters, and collection was
taken amounting to 1925. Messrs.
F. r. Sherman and B. Il. Hobbs, who
took the collection, were also direct
ed to canvass among citizens of the
town and county not present and en-
deavOr to encrease this amount.