The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-30


witnessed so much suffering By his
kindred and friends have come slowly
to recognize some of the better traits
of the leader Of the south in that bloody
time but justice compels me to say,
and I believe the time has come for the
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, by the press from the stump. and
the pulpit, that the dogma Of state SOW
ereignty was right ana mat slavery was
not only best for both races, but II was
established and maintained at the ex-
press mandate Of God
Though a man of fine education and
great attachments. he read and thought
and interpreted the constitution after
the fashion Of his greater teacher. Cal
houn 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 the 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 had fought calamity in the In
dian wars. and afterwards retired to a
life OF contemplation and study. In
Obeying his countryS call he later
fought bravely in the far of fields of
Mexico, and with the blood streaming
from his body. refused TO leave the bat
taIions until the victorious shout told
the battle had been Won Again return
ing to the shades OF private life. after
having refused great military honors
that, by too severe Interpretation 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 circumstances.
Should he stand for the union, or should
he cast his lot in favor Of secession2
Looking at him as we do today, knowing
his surroundings, his teachings, and high
a fff hfsz
tions OF duty, can the issue be doubtful.
AS well might we have expected the first
proclamation Of the great Lincoln after
/ his Inauguration to have been an ac-
I knowledgment of the right of South
4 Carolina to secede as to have expected
I that the great Davis would favor the un-
| ion With all the courage that could an
/ innate q great mind under trials as Sc
\ we're as could come to any man. through
out the war ne did his best TO maintain
| and support the south in her mad infat-
uatiou for secession and disunion.
/ Grant said the war should have end
ed with the battle OF Gettysburg That
/ is true. but it would have ended sooner
I then IL did had Grant been captain of
/ the southern confederacy and Lincoln
been president of the confederacy. Davis
and Lee fought on because they were
Americans. and because they believed
} they were right.
They succumbed just as the north
would have cone had the conditions
I been reversed at the last ditch
the bearing OF Davis during his life
since the war ended, endeared him to the
south.
He felt that in him was the enbodf-
| ment of the lost cause: that, yielding to
/ the inevitable, a different interpreta ton
had been given TO the constitution from
| that believed in by him and by the
south, although the right Of secession
was forever settled as wrong, still TO the
survivors of his soldiers and IN memory
of the southern dead. he remained to
the last acting and saying We believed
/ in the justice of our cause
while believing as 7 do that had the
l south succeeded the greatest harm had
come to liberty and to the cause of hui
manity-that the grand destiny await
| ing this people could never have been
l theirs; that the south was wrong,
eternalIy wrong, and that the north was
right, and everlastingly right-stiu I
as firmly believe that not only was the
| rank and file OF the southern soldiery
| honest and sincere in their advocacy of
rebellion, but that their great leaders
were imbued by lofty patriotism
! and among them all there was no more
sincere and conscientious man than JEFF
continning. the Eagle in ITS account
I Of Mr. Burton's celebrated address. says:
4 He cautioned the young men about the
commission Of errors and warned them
against that prejudice which leads them
/ into errors. He said that the Is year old
\ boy Of today of average intelligence had
/ a better conception Of human liberty
this referred TO the proposition Of Mr..
l Lincoln to the south to lay down their
arms, and the right to hold property in
4 slaves would be conceded to them"
Rev. NJ. +. McKirahan, member of
| Lincoln post, denounced Burton from
/ his pulpit in 1895. Some OF the old sold
/ iers think they have been worked by the
Burton mana gers. II seems a smooth
! political move to have the g. A r. men
1 who fought him in 1885 now stand re-
| sponsible for BurtOn's coming speech in
! Topeka.
THE BURTON MEETING
| Following is the official announce
/ ment of the Burton meeting:
/ At the Auditorium Wednesday even
/ ing. October 31st, under the auspices of
| the Old Soldiers Mckinley and Roose-
Hon. J. r. Burton viii address the
meeting Grand display of fire works by
/ Topeka Republican Flambeau club and
general parade Of all Republican clubs
/ ar 1880 O'Clock.
The various organizations will meet at
/ the Armory promptly at o'clock Cap
marshal the parade, led by Marshalps
/ band
Speaking at 8 o'clock.
Song-Santa F'e shops quartette.
/ Song, Marching Through Georgia" -
/ Mrs N. Wright The audience joining
/ in the chorus.
Introduction of the speaker by Captain
\ G. H. Titus, chairman of the meeting.
Music - TWenty-third Regimental
band.
FLAMBEAU DISPLAY
The Republican FIambeau club Will
/ assemble al the ArTnory at o'clock
/ tomorrow evening, in uniform, to make
I a fireworks display for the Burton meet
/ ing at the Auditorium. The parade Will
move promptly at 7.30 and march TO
Ninth street on Kansas avenue; thence
4 east TO Quincy, and north on Quincy to
1 the Auditorium. The mistake of COM
/ mencfng the firing on Quincy viii not
be repeated, but the club viii open its
battery Of IRE at Sixth on Kansas ave
/ niue.