The Southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1895-1909, 1908-06-06

1une reminds us again Of the tragedy of Jefferson
Davis. 4 Shakespeare could make OF It a story
that would interest the ages. In fact. there IA
hardly a character in the tragedies of the great
playwright whom misfortune follows so persist
enly as It did the executive head OF the
sh~ort-lived Southern Confederacy. Called OF the
gods to lead in sorrow but In imperial pride the
foredoomed cause of a bclatcd fcudalism in It's
death grapple with that growing spirit of democ-
racy which had become the ruling passing OF the
age-vhy did this no; promise In itself enough
of tragedy to satisfy the fa,es, But 1, would seem
as II destiny had set Itself to struggle with the
man TO break his mastertul spiri, only to and
that through It all he WINGED not nor cried
aloud"
We speak of tho June magazines because June
and this hrs' week in June Is the hundred,h ami
versary Of DaSis's. birth. and the tragedy that s,iil
attends his career finds fresh illustration in tho
fact that his name is barely mentioned In these
publications.. while articles already beginning fore
tell the coming deluse Of literature called forth
by the centenary of his great antagonist. Abraham
Lincoln. in February Of next year.
$4,000"
apart. tho lives OF both these men lay hold
nightly upon the imagination. and In both. The
tragic is the major note. While reared In greater
comfort. the early life of Davis seems hardly happier
than tina, of Lincoln himself. Marrying a, TWEEN
ty-aye the daughter OF zachary Taylor. her death
a few months later almoa, proetratcd him. and for
years aferward he lived iu accinaion. helping hia
brother In The management Of their Mississippi
- 80. A.m-ss - "
tasks he was later 10 assume. Distinguishing
himself for gallantry in the Mexican War and win
ming laurcia as Representative and Senator In
Washington. this season of seeming prosperity last
ed only long enough for the fa;ea TO NJ him for
the supreme tragedy In which he mus, ever stand
conspicuous In history. Fate has assigned 10 few
men "A harder tank than that Of guiding the des-
tiuica Of the Southern contcievacy. II Davis had
succeeded, h. would have deserved "a mighty place
In history: that he failed IN no proof Of weakness.
The very principles that called his government
into being had In them tho menace Of failure.
Leaving The Union because Of their adherence TO
the doctrine Of States Rights" each Southern
Commonwealth wan Jealous OF whatever attempt
al power the new central government displayed.
and every cTor; mad. by Davis To Increase the
efficiency ~ The national organization provoked
the hcrrest criticism. In his own Cabinet were
bitter critics, the Vice President OF the conf"der-
ary differed With him violently: IN both Houses
Of Congress hts policies were under constant hr".
The brilliant editor Of The Richmond Examiner
turned ha cauhtic pen against the President. and
kh"tt Of The Charleston Mercury went so far M
to suggest Impeachment itself. When the war
ended and the tragedy Of i.iucoln's asHaasination
%nadd"ned the people. the bitterness OF tho times
had 80 fully don. It's work that the North was
ready 10 believe Davis n party TO tho awful
crime. For two years then II prisoner on the