The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1909-09-30

accepts the challenge. There is some
thing to say about Jefferson Davis and
his admission TO the National Temple
of Fame 1t is high time that it was
said. 1t is high time that the mist
which for half century has distorted
the north's view of this son of the
south was cleared away. 1t is in JUS
tice time that the man who in his day
suffered more than any other south
erner for the cause in which he believ-
ed should cease to be reckoned trai.
tor and coward, and be esteemed for
what he was-a brave, true southern
gentleman.
Jefferson Davis had his faults; the
south, which knows best what they
were admits them. The south under
stands that had its president been
man more after the Lincoln type the
result might have been different.
But the south will never cease to adj
mire and honor the man of iron nerve,
of dauntless courage, of peerless chiv-
airy, who suffered and dared and all
but died for the cause he loved and
lost. OF that host of true men who
gave their best and their all for the
feonfedTaey because in their deepest
hearts they believed they were doing
right, none was more sincere than he.
Of that multitude who lined up for
the struggle against rheir brothers of
the north none was drawer and none
was nober. His sacrifice was as ex-
treme rs it was sincere, and his treat
ment by the victors after the crash
came was sore medicine for q heart
that was breaking.
1t is century and year since JEFF
ferSon Davis was born. 1t is near to
half century since his eanse was lost.
1t is twenty years since his death.
What better time could there be to
signify, by the placing of his statue in
the nations capitol, that the wound
of that war are healed that in the
blood of brothers shed the union is for
ever cemented on foundation that
standeth sure. There let his present.
ment stand erect, noble, commanding,
impressive, as he stood in the days
when he was master of the deStinies
of half nation. Let it there remind
the south that it was mistaken and
the north that is misunderstood. Let
it picture a martyr to a cause that,
though lost, was not wholly vain,
since it taught brothers to appreciate u
relationship they were In danger of
forgetting. And not appropriately
might there be carved on it the In
scription which an unknown poet OF
the south once suggested for his statue:
Write on its base; "We loved him"
All these years,
Since that torn flag was folded, we've
been true,
The love that bound us now reveal
ed in tears,
Like webs, unseen till heavy with the
dew.
That is generosity as broad as the
south could ask, and this section will
not live up to its traditions if it does
: not respond in kind. 1t is nearly hall
) century since the civil war closed
, and the clouds OF sectional prejudice
and illfeeling which it produced are
dispensing The mist has descended
to the valleys and men who stand OF
the mountain tops look with clear Wis
ion beyond the reaches of the fog.
Jefferson Davis did nothing to incur
personal odium. He was no more reb
l ell, traitor or conspirator than the hum
: blest private in the confederate service
e His combined training of soldier anC
statesman caused him to be chosen
the chief of the proposed new nation
on the eve of its struggle for independ
ence. Whatever may be said of hi
i. ability, there is no flaw on his higf
: character and no doubt of his SINGER,
: belief that he was in the right. HI
J cannot be made a perpetual scape
: goat for the alleged sins for which thu
v whole south has been forgiven.
The rational aspect of the matte
will eventually force the entire north Il
that only reasonable veiw. One mark
e ed evidence of this returning SAINT,
a was found in Theodore Roosevelt, VIII
q in his youth gave gratuitous insult t
the aged ex-president of Confederacy
/ but when himself president of tn
e United States caused the name of JET
o ferson Davis to be quietly restored t
= Cabin John Bridge, from whence tn
malice Of Edwin NJ. Stanton ha,
caused it to be erased.-Nashvill
t Banner.