The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-11-28
"OlRT DEFIES THE KING" THEN
Sal POI 10
Is GREATER THAN ROYALTY ITSELF.

And 1, the son and a brother of a vet
teran, who, as a child, on the border
of the conflict, witnessed so much suf-
fering by his kindred and friends, have
come to slowly recognize something OF
the better traits of the leader OF the
south in that bloody times, but justice
eompels me to say, and 1 believe the
time has come for the great world 10
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, by the press, from the stump. and
the pulpit, that the dogma of state SOW
ereignty was right and that slavery
was not only best for both races, but
ii was established and maintained at
the exress mandate of God Though
a man of fine education and great at
tainments, he read and thought and In
terpreted the constitution after the
fashion of his great teacher, Calhoun,
and holding fast to the Bible and the
Christian faith, he as firmly believed In
the doctrine of secession as Lincoln did
in the idea of Union. The beginning
Of the war found him at mature man
hood, and in possession Of the greatest
honors that his adopted state could con-
fer on one of her citizens. AS boy he
had fought CALAMITY in the Indian wars,
and afterwards retired to life or con-
templa ton and study. In obeying MS
country's call he later fought brayely
in the far-off fields Of Mexico, and, with
the blood streaming from his body, re-
fused to leave his battalions until their
victorious shout told the battle had been
won. Again retiring TO the shades or
private life, after having refused great
military honors that, by his severe IN
depreciation of the constitution, he
could not accept, was chosen by his
state to the high position as legislator
in the American congress.
But the supreme moment came to
Davis as it comes TO us all in various
ways, and under different circum-
stances. Should he stand for the In
ion or should he cast mis- lot in favor OF
secession? Looking at him as We do
today. knowing his surroundings, his
teachings, and high above these, the
strength of his conviction Of duty, can
the issue be doubtful? As we'll might
we have expected the first proclama-
ton of the great Lincoln after his in
auguration to have been acknowledge
ment Of the right of South Carolina 10
secede, as TO have expected that the
great Davis would have favored union |
With all the courage that could ami |
mate a great mind, under trials as Sc
we're as could come to any man. through !
out the entire war he did his best 10 /
maintain and support the south in her |
mad infatuation for secession and dis |
union. Grant said the war should have !
ended with the battle OF Gettysburg. |
That is true, but II would have ended |
sooner than it did had Grant been cap 4
- ~
coin been president OF the Confede-acy? l
Davis and Lee fought on because they 1
were Americans and because they be-
,ieved they We're right They succumb- I,
cd Just as TIE north would have done /
had the conditions been reversed IL the
last ditch.
Then the bearing Of Davis during his
life since the war eadesred him 20 The
south He felt that il him was TIE
% the lost cause; that.
yielding 20 the Inevitable. a different
had been given 20 the con
s;itutioa from that believed in BY hin
and by the south. and although the
right Of secession was forever settled as
VI Sng. stiil 10 me survivors OF MS sol
aiers and in memory Of the southern
dead. he remained to the last, acting
and saying. We believed in the justice
1f our cause.
While believing as I do that had the
south ssccseded the greatest harm had
come TO liberty and 70 The cause o. hu-
nsnity; that the grand destiny await
ng this people could never have been
heirs. thai the south was wrong efer-
1aliy WRONG. and that The north vas
wright .svsrlsstinzly right-stin l as
irniy believe that not only was the
-z1k aul file Of The southern eoidSe-y
honest and sincere n their advocacy %
's;cellion. but that their great leaders
we're inbued BY lofty patriotism. and
among them al there was no more sin
ere and conzcien tious nan than Je-er-
son Davis