Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-10-07
Correspondence of the Beacon.)
JEFFERSON DAVIS IN THE WEST.
INVITATIONS, RECEPTIONS ADDRESSES.
Sr. LOUIS, Sept. 9th, 1875.


ance Of Hon. Jefferson Davis into pub
lie life, and especially his recent visit to
Missouri, have been the subject of so
much journalistic comment throughout
the country, that have thought a few
lines from the scene Of action might be
OF some interest to your readers. And
here / may remark that it must be a
subject of universal congratulatiOn to
allspatriotic citizens throughout both
the entire North and South, that though
scarcely ten years have elapsed since the
close of the war, such q spirit of con-
cord and reconciliation is manifesting
itsalf in all parts of the country.
= As it has been made known to most
Of your readers presume, Mr.. Davis
has been the recipient of q large num-
Der of invitations to deliver addresses
before various Agricultural Association
or Fairs this Fall throughout the West
and North West. Most of these he has
declined on account of the feeble condi-
tion Of his health-many from political
reasons, especially since the unfortunate
and disgraceful result of the invitation
to Winnebago Co, Ills, which has met
with such universal condemnation, but
which has 40 doubt won golden opiu-
ions for him from both friends and
foes.
ADDRESS IN MOAN OVATION By THE
PEOPLE.
Mr.. Davis delivered three addresses
in Missouri-nt De Soto, Fulton and
Kansas City. His first appearance was
before the jefferson County Fair at DE
Soto, a beautiful suburban town of St.
Louis.
1t was an event looked for with un-
usual interest, net only in this immedi-
ate section, but throughout the West,
to hear what the ex-President of the
Confederacy would say and whether he
would touch upon the domain of poll
tics or not. Special trains were run
from this city and a large assembly
greeted the distinguished speaker
His address was fully up to his reputa-
ton rs an able orator and met with a
general applause from men of all par
ties. No allusion Of any Importance
was made to politics, the great problems
Of Agriculture and Commerce engaging
his entire attention. He dwelt exhaus-
lively aud ably upon the great need of
improving the great streams of the
West, which could only bring about
cheap and ample transportation for the
immense agricultural products of the
Mississippi Valley.
INpoRsEs THE OHIO RAG BABY.
He, however, remarked that he had
shaken hands with politics, though he
made brief allusion to the all-absorb-
ing financial problem and seemed in
clined to indorse the Infiationists, or, in
present political parlance, the "Ohio
Rag baby" His addresses at the 9TH
er named places varied but little. A
spirit of patriotism and recognition of
the binding and connecting power Of
the Union pervaded them all. His en-
tire trip through the State, with excep-
tion of st. Louis, (where no public de-
monstration was considered prudent, J
was perfect ovation. All along the
railroad crowds of people assembled to
greet him and the curious to get q look
ut the ex-Prsidsnt, and i'll some places
the hand shaking almost overpowered
him, on account of the feeble state of
bis health. This demonstration came
from men Of oil shades Of opinion, and
was no more than due honor to Mr..
Davis worth as an eminent man and a
scholar, without any recognition of the
ill-fated principle he represented in the
past, Oliver 7. Morton. Wendell Phil.
lips aud the Bloody Shirt" Chicago
lnter-oc,an to the contrary.
IN Though there NAV be few in Mis-
sour who vet persist to hug the phan-
tom Of the ''dear, dead Cause. the ma
,iority and the substantial men of the
State have accepted the issue Of the wa,
as 6nality.
WHO Is JEFFERSON DAVIS?
A few facts concerning Mr.. Davis
history may not be out Of place here. a.
q great many people know but little oi
him, except that long ago in the unhap
py past he was in some way linked with
q fated and dead fanaticism over who's
unconsecrated grave some laugh, som,
mock and few shsd pathetic tears.
Jefferson Havis was a son Of one o
the revolutionary patriots and was hor,
in Kentucky. His father emigrated {.
Mississippi during his early years, al