The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-07


temperate article OF, "Ricl,mondts TIN
iveillng,'' with the tone Of which we
find no fault; but 1t n,akcs certain
criticisms of President Jefferson Davis
which wc cannot allow to pass unchal-
lcnSed. u.
"rl,e people Of the North ana Vest
1T remarks, while time has softened
the asperitios that slavery ana tho
Civil War engendorcd, l,hvc by no
means come to regard Jefferson Davis
with tho same forgiving appreciation
they bestow upon Lee. To them there
is little or nothing to admire in Jeffer-
son Davis, and n great deal yet remain-
ing to be forgiven"
That Is the Nortl,s affair. and wo
have no dispute with the Transcript
rs to how the North feels. But when
It undertakes to express the sentiment
Of the South towards Mr., Davis, that Is
our affair.
'In the South" the Transcript pro-
Goods. ito Judge from the burden of
countless "reminiscences. and the esti-
mates Of HIN expressed in confidential
moments by representative Southern
ers, the regard for Davis, symbolized
by the memorial, is that Of the head
rather than the heart. Towards him
there may be felt esteem, but not that
warm, cherishing love which follows
the memory OF Lee. To the pride OF a
section that leads 1t to honor the chiefs
of n cause which 1t would never seek
to revive must be attributed the South
crn demonstration In honor Of Jefferson
Davis"
1t is Unfair to contrast Mr.. Davis
with Lee. jackson, Stuart, and other
Confederate leaders, who saw service
on the field. Mr.. Davis occupied n
part to direct. and it was impossible
for him to do this without provoking
criticism and exciting antagonism. He
was blamed for everything that went
wrong. He was blamed for what he
did do, and for what he failed to do. He
could not take the public into his con-
fldcnce, and hence his acts and his mo-
tives wep often misunderstood. He
President Of the United States has
been, and even under the best circum-
stances It would have been impossi-
BILE for the soldiers to feel towards
him as they felt towards their COM
manders in the field The animus
against him and the criticisms were
passed on to the second generation,
and some prejudice against Mr.. Davis
remains to this day.
But, as q people, we now have a
clearer view, and Jefferson Davis is
honored and revered as one Of the
greatest and most devoted of the
south's distinguished sons The n1onu-
mcnt to his memory is tribute to the
character and service Of the President
of the Confederacy, than whom no man
made greater sacrifice for the cause.
And If the editor of the Transcript had
seen the enthusiastic demonstration
when the veil was lifted from the
figure of our heroic statesman, he would
have been convinced that the monu-
but in affectionate veneration.
The Transcript editor himself seems
to soften towards Mr.. Davis in the con-
clusion Of his article.
"Analyzing the conduct Of these two
Confederate leaders," says he, ''and
eliminating in the process Lees
winning personality. Davis as chief
of his cause does not fare i'll under
the test. He was at least logical:
took his position early with q full
knowledge OF It's risks, and never for
a moment allowed the Union to hope
that 1t might reckon on his support
There was nothing ambiguous in his
attitude months before the first shot
was fired"
True, ho lacked General Lees win
ming personality" lie was not man
Of emotons; but he was man of
deep convictions. a man Of courage,
man Of determination, true to his
principles, loyal to his allegiance, and
faithful to his own people; and the
South has erected an enduring monu-
ment to his memory, In honor and
affection, without apology and with
| out Qualification . III