The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-31

that after brave people had sacrificed
their all save honor and endured suffer
!ngs Understandable that they would he
slow TO see and acknowledge that their
cause was wrong, but at the very close OF
that bloody conflict, almost be
fore the smoke OF battle had
been lifted TO the sky, from every
quarter that fairly reflected pubic sentl-
ment il the south, came au ackaowldg-
| rnent that the issue fought for century
IN the arena OF debate. namely the suprem-
acy OF the nation as against state sover-
eigGty, or the right Of secession had been
| submitted TO the arbitramenJ OF the sword
and that the decision had been made and
| was forever and irrevocably settled in
| favor Of the integrity OF the Mon
Il ended no affirmation OF any character
| 1t had a safe place more enduring tdan
parchment: il had been indelIDly written
| upon the heart OF the nation with sword
Dipped in tears and blood.
That The amendments were the results
OF the war Is true. but they were not
the guaGe OF battle. AS Il war measure
slavery was abolished ami in order TO pro-
tect the former bondsmAn full citizenship
/ was given him. Every step n this legIs-
! latiOn was denied by the fallen foe, and
instead of It's being a treaty between the
! belligerents every effort has been made to
/ make imperative the amendments by the
/ south; while universal concession has
been and is made by them that
the right OF secession does not exist aad
| that the supremacy OF the nation Is for
ever established.
Without discussing in extenso the paper
! of the brilliant literature on the negro
! problem, it IS well TO state its substance.
Because by rounding periods and happy
phrase-byan artistic blending OF fallacy
! and logic that IS entirely natural 70 him
some confusion may arise TO the casual
+ 4 - -
ticle. Summarized the gravamen of
I his position Is this: The war
/ was ostensibly fought upon tie
! part Of he north to maintain the integrity
! OF the | mon, but after the conflict ended
and the south surrendered, this position
! was abandoned and "A treaty was made be-
/ tween the beIiigerents, expressed III the
amendments TO the constitution, which
/ treaty the south has never kept aud never
/ Will keep. although it is right in the abb
stracf, and hence it would be bet
/ ter for the north to abandon this
/ treaty ana give up this right
/ and compromise by an enforced
! exodus OF the negro to Africa. The war
did not settle anything. All the blood and
treasure was wasted. The negro problem
might have heen solved as it must yet be
solved by returning him to the land Of his
nativity, and at another time and under
other conditions the idea of Union must
be written in our National Charter If IL Is
ever to be finally established" What
fearful future this cOutempiates What
an awful commentary on the psf il it be
true.
The tears of women aad the blood of
men were shed ia vain.
But il is not true Our women did not
suffer for naught, our heroes did not die
in vain.
After commenting at considerable
length on the ingalls, position, he went on
show the causes which led to the war and
how it became possible for Anglo SaX0ns
to fight among themselves. He showed
also how it was possible for the Puritan
fathers to hold the Bible in one hand
while he applied the torch to the fagOt
pile that burned a human being accused
OF witchery. He referred TO the fact that
even the ministers OF the Gospel consider
ell it their duty TO preach in support Of
slavery and the dogma OF secession. He ar
gued from these facts that both sides to the
war believed themselves to be right. He
said the leaders Of the south were as hon.
est as the leaders of the north in their be-
lief concerning the justice OF their cause.
Lee. he said, could be Union general as
brave and honest rs Grant and concerning
WA OtAN . IL > kSAN 10 ANAiO"o.
The last rites are being paid to the re-
mains NJ Jefferson Davis. Ihe president
and the ablest of the civic leaders OF the
Confedracy. 1t is, perhaps, too early yet
to judge this man fairly aud imparsialiy,
and give him his exact place in history.
And the same may lie said Of his great op-
ponent, Abrauam Lincoln. The Que is
enShrined IN the henr,s of the people Of
the north as the other IS In the hearts OF
If h..
black stain on the soul. made by passion,
has not yet been etfdced against Lincoln
IN the south nor against Davis in the
north. And |, the son and brother of 2
veteran, who, as child, on the border Of
the conflict. Witnessed 50 much suffering
by his kiudred and friends, have come to
slowly TO recognize something of the
the south il that bloody time
but justice compels me 10 say and be .
lieve The time mas come for the great
world to admit the courage, the ability
and the integrity Of jefferson Davis.
Born and reared in the southland, he /
was taught from his cradle, in social life, I
by the press, from the stump ana the pull (
pit, tRaJ the dogma OF state sovereignty /
WAS right anu That slavery was not only (
best for both races, but II was established /
and maintained at the express mandate of /
God, Though a man OF fine education and /
great attachments, be read aud thought !
and interpretated the constitution after
tie fashion Of his great teacher, Calhoun.
and holding fast 20 the Bible aud the
christian faith, he IS firmly believed in /
the doctrine OF secession as Lincoln did in /
the idea Gf union. The beginning OF the /
war found him at mature manhood, and /
in possession OF the greatest honor that
his adopted state could confer on one OF
her citizens As a boy he mad fought [
lI-tr1Fl.- II, th+a Indian .,Fr
wards retired 10 n life OF contemplation
and study. In obeylng his c0unJry's call he
later fought brayely IN the far of fields of
Mexico, and, with the blood streaming
from his body, refused 10 leave his BAT
tali00s until their victorious shout told
the battle had been won. Again retiring
to the shades OF private lite, after having
refused great military honors that, by his
severe Interpretation OF the constitution. /
hc could not accept, was chosen bv his
state to The high position as legislator IN
the American congress.
Bat lhs supreme moment came TO
Davis as It comes 10 Us all in various
Ways and under different circumstances
Should he stand tOr the Union or should
h cast his lot IN favor OF secession:
Looking at him Is we do today kuowiaZ
as surroundings, las teachings. and .
high above these, the strength OK his con
vlctlouS OF duty, can the issue be doubtful T
As Wei Mi-Ht we nave eN Ejeetea TIE Ur~t
OF the great LIoc0Ia after
his Inauguration 60 have been au acsuowl-
Ell gmeut .. the right OF South Carolina 10
-ecete. Is 60 have eEHac cti that the great
d avis would have favored union. With
Al. tue courage thgr could Az gstIe a great
IniGi, under tgltls As severe Is could ever
come to Any .H8H, throughout She entire
war he dill a1S best 10 maintain and sup
port the Souta in her mad lGfstuaJioa tor
-cse<sion AMI Gl-u.t5u Grant said -h=
MAJ should have euGed with tie battle Of
Gettysburg Ihat : true. hu- would II
aave el.ael sooner than e L.I hal Grant
saeti eapta.n 81 LIZ snn-herr 81