The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-12

| AS a statesman Jefferson Davis early learned
the difference between the trade OF politics and
the art Of craftsmanship. All my countrymen,
| loving our country, both north and south, see
Ing the hydra Of corruption coiling around the
purity OF our institutions, when viii the old race
OF statesmen revivef Upon whose shoulders
shall fall the mautle-this day dropping from
that noble form within the conn; mantle that
ever covered 6 statesman Of tae antique pat
tern; a purity exalted to an altitude beyond
conception OF the vulgar mind; q devotion
which shraak from no sacrifice and qusiled
before no peril
Coming upon the stage as Calhoun was pass
ing out. at nrst the eyes OF men were idly bent
upon him VINO enters next" but soon men
found the mantle OF the great Carolinian was
wortnlly borne by the great MississiDpian. At
| that time the Democratic party was possessed
by the demon that party triumph presages-
public spoil. It's prurient aspiration for re-
| wardS-its forgetfulness OF its great mission
| 1t was held together by the cohesive power OF
pubuc plumber" and the great Randolph Of
| Roanoke caustically said that 1T had seven
pr1nciples-fve loaves and two fishes Its bap-
| tism or blood. however, was preparing. Its fires
| OF pnrihcation were already kindled. That
| stern ordeal, into which God passes men and
measures who forget their high mission in
/ personal gain was already opened in the halls
| OF congress. All that was needed was the per-
| sonal work and presence of purifiers man
| TO call men back TO the great issue before them;
| Gent to rouse the leaders Of the south to the
| dangers that threatened; a prophet to read the
| writing upon the wall writ by the fingers of
God, against every institution that falls from its
| high estate
TIE PRINCIPLE OF Mr.. DAVIS LIFE.
Here it is necessary to emphasize once and for
| all, 70 emphasize clearly and concsely the one
great consistent principle Of Mr.. DAVIS life
| about bis career, that right and wrong to him
No expediency could ''u' ever 'e taEe
take the sublime throne which belonged to
ChanVa Of Dir
ado 70, or take auRht from their everlasting
righttulness. The test of war might defeat but
could never destroy their inherent truth The
issue OF battle might be accepted in a LOYAL and
loving spirit but not by being recreant to sacred
principles. Whether in the hour of his
triumph in the United States; whether leading
the torlorn hope of Oh enaciated confederacv
or whether in that grandest hour of all when he
grew 70 old age, in an honorable retirement
This man 1eds marked by an iacorrupttble IoUal
IT, Of CONNECTIONS. Listen-whether you agree
with him or not-this man believed that duty was
Of God partook OF his nature knew mo variable
ness nor shadow of turning" 1T is an attri.
butte OF true greatness in the character of Jeffer.
son DavS-one his enemies have misunderstood
but which sill men understanding have never
called in question, and TO which candor must
ever accord the tribute Of infinite admira
ton"
You win readily understand the difference
between the inf1exible firnness of Mr. Davis
believing in the righteousness Of his cause and
nttering his convictions quietly and modestly
SILENT, and the ready rhetoric Of Others who
without his modesty have stirred up sectional
feeling. There is no sense in that wordy
eloquence; neither is there strength. Two
sentiments must possess ever our breasts in
unity: love of this common country
faith IN the sacredness OF our southern cause
Let them never be divorced.
TWO cnAssEs OF MEN
Distant from. this one class 8lr. Davis
was equally distant from the other.
the men who, eager in their accept.
ance of results, do sometimes seem to
verge upon dsloyalty to the past. 1t shames
me Through all my being to see southern men,
for the breath of popular favor and applause
play the part OF penitent. I yield to no man in
loyalty to the government that now rules us
with tolerant sway. 1 would not have 1t
otherwise; but ask none of US to say by word or
deed, that cause for which our fathers and
brothers fought, which has been greatly honored
by the. blood of heroes and the tears of women.
has lost aught of its sacredness by the passage
of time and by the rush of material age which
destroys too many ideals in the fever of its
money getting. How difficult is the middle way
between ranaticism and disloyalty; yet 1t has
been walked by him, whose lips in their retire
ment uttered no word provocative of sectional
feeling, and whose life committed no deed
suggestive of disloyalty to the faith that was in
him.
That principle to which he gave his life-I
state it at last in his own words: GIVE TO each
section or the union justice give to every citi-
zen OF the United States his rights as guaranteed
by the constitution; leave this confederacy to
rest upon that basis from whca it arose-the
fraternal feelings of the people-and I, for one,
nave no Tear OF its perpetuity; none that it will
not survive beyond the limits OF human specu-
lat1on, expanding and hardening with The lapse
of time, 20 eX end its blessings to ages unnlim-
bered, and people innumerable; TO include
Within its empire all the useful products of the
earth, and eXemplify the capacity OF a CON
federacy, with general, well-defned powers. to
extend iilimitRbly, without impairing its
harmony or its strength" Men with love of
mechanism and faith in bureaucratic
powers may consider this as a dream too vague
"a thing too indefinite and Intangible for
human government. But 1t has been to us a
conception OF this government which we took
in with our mothers milk. Time does bnt
strengthen our faith in it, On this plan and in
this spirit are our very homes constituted. No
central despotism exists within them but a holv
confraternity of hearts, bound in mutual re-
gard, living with well-defned duties In this
spirit is the church of God construct bound
together by the common humanity of men and
living in the hope of a common destiny
government modelled and modulated by this
spirit has for its safeguard the Responsive
loyalty OF every citizen. While mechanical
into a vast machine, irritating and fretting its
people with arrogant and bureaucratic powers
it has for its menace the sore aad wounded feel.
ingS OF its members.
AS PRESIDENT.
For four long and weary years Jefferson Davis
attempted 10 bring the naScent nation with
tn principle as the reason of its existence
stamped upon its banners, into the safe port of
a new natlonalty. Or the trials and dangers of
this new adventure; of the obstacles from within
and without IN the path of this new achievement:
or the blood that was shed, the lives that were
lost, the sacrifices that were cheerfulhy made
TO attain this end, there is no need for me to
speak. You have them written in your hearts
whence no recording angel will ever wipe them
away. Misrepresentation and calumny fell
upon him from every side His was ne easy
post. The south was not barren of great and
wise men; nay, rather she was filed with them
in camp and council board. There was hardly a
country postoff1ce where some wise head did
not hold forth upon the mistakes of the admin
istration. Brilliant men and men of genius
forgot that wise saying of Martineau, the truth
OF which every man has felt who ever tried
amid good report and amid evil to do his duty
they forgot in regard to Mr.. Davis THAT the
critic is everywhere, the ioUer nowhere - But
still the grand old man persevered, "wieldinp
the inadequate means of a feeble confederaC.y1
and for months multiplied upon months. with
stood the shock OF powerful invading nation.
unlimited IN resources and equal in courage
His was faith founded on religious principle
AT all times be rested himself and his cause in
the hands or God. At the very crisis of affairs
the dispatch that told him of the ruin of his
dearest hopes found him upon his knees in the,
house or God. But in the book OF fates it was
written that this continent should hold but one
American nation Therefore the outward form
persisted, but the principle continued to live,
and, in spite of temporary defaults, modifes'
ana VIII continue to modify, the government of
our country.
LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE.
The dead chieftain, whose obsequies we cole
kWaE