Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-11-24

MI D LAVE NaANa baA0 = tatctS1s
The Charleston Nescs and Courier. which
Is an influential exponent Of southern
sentiment and opinion. says that it would
gladly support a movement to have the
southern States grant q pension TO Mrs.
JEFFERSON DAVIS, but that it fears she
would not approve the idea, and it recalls
the fact that she discountenanced a move
ment made soon after the death OF her
husband to raise fund for her By public
subscription.
The Ntaes and Courier is inclined to think
that q better mode 10 accomplish the end
In view and, 10 erect q monument to the
Confederacy, would be to raise money to
endow a southern college for women and
make Mrs. DAVIS the president of it.
There arc several objections TO this
scheme. The first Is that Mrs. DAyIs's
health IS not such as to render 1t adylsa-
bic for her 10 trouble herself with business
matters. The second IL that IL would meet
with no great favor from existing institu-
tions which would have the new college as
competitor; and at best it would take
years and years to raise tho required
money. The third objection is that col
lections for the college would inevitably
interfere with collections for the DAVIS
monument. and all who know Mrs. DAVIS
must believe that when she found that this
would be the case she would urge dis
continuance Of the college collection.
The pension is better. Some OF the
greatest and best people, men and women,
that ever lived we're pensioners on Their
Governments. There is nothing ignoblo
about It, On the contrary. in case such
as this, the voting of the pension IS the
voting of @ tribute of heartfelt gratitude
both TO Mr.. and Mrs. DAVIS.
The amount each State would contribute
would be but trife, and it could not be-
come a troublesome precedent and would
not be a long-continuing tax. So, 1t seems
10 us, that o pension equally as large as
that which the United States gives the
widows of its Presidents would be night,
timely, and graceful. Widows of several
ex-Presidents of the United States have
consented to be provided for in this man
ner. and why should not Mrs. DAVIS?
The gentlemen here who have discussed
This matter and who may bring 1t
70 the attention of the General As
sembly of Virginia are old and intimate
friends Of Mrs. DAyIs's. They know her
sentiments on almost all general questions,
and would not advocate any scheme which
thew believe would be Objectionable to her.
They are friends whom she would be very
likely TO consult before taking any decisive
action as to accepting or rejecting such an
offer.
1t is gratifying to notice how generally
the pension idea is commended in the
South, and bow few northern papers have
ill-naturedly commented on thesuggestion.
Indeed, there have been very agreeable
and cordial words Of approval from quar-
ters where it was hardly to be expected
that kind syllable would be uttered.
Where our contemporaries have not APP
proyed of the plan-as in the case OF the
Charleston Nt1os and Courier, the Lynch
burg Naos, and Lynehburg Adcdnoe-they
have been actuated by praiseworthy mo-
tiyes. including the conviction that the
object sought could be better ac-
complished in other ways. How
ever, if they will reconsider their
opinions and study the matter
anew we believe that they will come to the
conclusion which has been reached here
by Mrs, DAv1s's friends-that the pension
plan affords the surest and promptest
means Of relieving her from worries that
have come upon her by reason OF the fall
ure Of her publishers
Under the circumstances there is no me-
cessity TO ask Mrs. DAVIS whether she APP
proves the plan,
It will be time enough to call upon her
for action when the money is voted, and
doubtless with her much will depend upon
the heartiness and gracefulness with which
the offer is made.