Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-11
Reflections Suggested by nn Attack
Upon Mrs. Davis and Daughter.


The Messenger nor any reputable south
ern newspaper can possibly have any
sympathy with the very unnecessary, un-
becoming. unfortunate, indecent, and
abominable attack in the Birmingham
(Ala.) Age-Herald upon Mrs. Davis and
her daughter, Miss Winnie, the beloved
wife and daughter of the late President
jefferson Davis, one of the purest,
honestest, bravest, most faithful, most
hOnored. most deserving men ever born
in the South. IL H. a most shameful at
tack, a most unjustihable piece Of ef-
frontery. 1t Is said that the head of the
insulting paper is f.. W. Barrett a former
secretary of Speaker Crisp. Of Georgia.
The article is from the graceless pen of
a Mrs. Ball. What her grievance is we
do not know, but there can be none TO
justify such deliberate insult, such
caustic criticism in the editorial column
of any respectable southern newspaper.
Mrs Davis and daughter proposed to Visit
the Nashville Centennial in October The
spiteful article among other unkind IN
"They so rarely visit the South or
evince any interest IN this section, Whlcn
conferred upon their husband ana iatheI
the highest honor within its gift, that IL
is refreshing TO learn OF their contem-
plated visit to Nashville. 1t IS TO De
hoped that neither distinguished woman
will be stricken with sudden Illness, IKE
unto the attacks Of sickness which nave
so frequently interfered with their pre-
vious visits TO the South.
Civilizations to Confederate reunions
have been as productive Of serious, IN
caDacitating Illness TO MRS. Narna JeI-
ferson Davis and her daughter, MISS
Winnie as exposure TO typhoid or ma
laria germs is tor the majority OF people
Their long. uninterrupted residence in the
cooler, calmer, more congenial atmos-
phere Of New York and New England
may have restored their depleted systems,
which, at one time, could not stand many
miles of travel through the hot, dusty,
but enthusiastic South"
This is more than cruel. for neither OF
these gifted and refined southern women
has done aught 10 JUSTIFY such an In
sinuatiOn as desertiOn of their own ia |
nous section and really preferring the |
Yankee civilization to their own. IL |
these good and true women have really
any aversion to their people and native |
home IL would be- indeed. most lament |
able and fatal stab 10 their own honor
ed names The Messenger cannot see |
why this most cruel and vindictive in |
situation was cast forth to wound and |
TO sadden. II should arouse angry indig- |
nation. and will do so among the true |
men and the noble women in this fair |
Southland. If we could be persuaded TO |
believe that the widow OF the illustrious |
and patriotic southron. who was himself |
80 pure and noble, so truthful, so grand, /
80 devoted to his native home, and that
gifted daughter who was born amid the
-hroes and convulsions of the tremendOuS
,iyil upheaval 1.-THE Daughter Of the Con-
should so much as in thought
wen be untrue. unfaithful, unsympaIheuc
With their people, who dared all and sur
'ered all for the noble cause that PreSi- |
lent Davis suffered so much for. we
would lose something OF our wonted ad-
niration and inbOrn courtesy for the sex |
which they adore. Says Shakespeare
lilies that tester smell far worse than
Ill kUfI oil
he South, leave us our ances-
raj faith, our admiration and gentle
ourtesy for women-"leave us still our
Id nobility" among men. We trust that
is not as the great Edmund Burke sald
n his eloquent work "On the trench
evolution''-"The age OF chvalry IS
assed." VIII not the South at once unite
n one most indignant rejection and re-
uke OF the unjust and merciless assault
pom Mrs. Davis and Miss DaVisY we
O not pretend to understand the cause
1uoh less the Justification, OF the inslnu-
tion of deSertion The Washington Post
suauy discusses questions aTUertaining
> the South in good temper and taste. IL
avs Of Mrs Balls accusation and the
readful ball set in motion;
1.-THE good taste and patriouc feeilng
T the South. and with none more than
18th the survivors of the southern armies,
ave been offended by constant EFFORTS
n the part of northern newspapers 10
eep the confederacy before the pubic
lind and TO use Mrs. and. Miss Davis
I course. without their connivance or
give substance and VitaVty
the sorry farce. In this way. TWO IN
ocent and unoffending ladies have been |
,rced as II were. into an unsougnt ana
oubtIess distasteful prominence. ana
ave become the victims OF an emphatic ,
vicarious resentment"
What is TO be said OF southern people
no condemn their best and noblest
Don Accusations or insinuations Forged
the fires OF hatred and hammered into I
teful shape upon southern anvils? we I
, not believe, as the Post says, now !
,er. that the criticism pronouncedI
rough the medium Of the AiaDama
.wspaper represents a widespread and
elI-defined feeling at the South. me
terance will be condemned In many
larters and defended In others equally
,portant and influential 1t is a deplo-
BILE demonstration, but 1t was not who'll
unexpected" Il ,
We have never heard q murmur or
IL a breath OF censure like that sug-
sted. We never hearc word OF
spralse OF either of the superior wo- I
en- referred. TO. II is impossible that
Q true and noble people In the Soutn .
III listen to In patience, much less de-
nd for a moment the aspersions .
ught TO be cast upon the bereaved
d now aged widow OF the soutn
-esident and his daughter. We havet
en- or heard nothing whatever TO JUS
" the rernotest suggestion that the =
ne people-the brave and patriotic !
q wearying OF the traditions or the J
ar and its glories. While the Sontn :
tho utmost good faith accepted tneA