Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-05-25
jefferson Davis,

A spec al to the Tribune from Hous.
ton, Texas, furnishes the following
fuller r. port of the remarks of Mr.. Da-
Wis with regard to the old flag:
On the Grounds, Jefferson Davis
and BraxtOn Bragg reviewed a SPLEEN
did display Of military, composed
largely of old Confederate soldiers
The 10th United States infantry fur
nished music. Mr.. Davis made a
speech referring to their record as ron-
federate soldiers, and said they owed
the same devotion to the flag under
which they now live if occasion should
ever come. The sentiment was re.
ceiyed with trenendot!s cheering by
at least 10 900 present. Governor
Coke said the greatest man of the
north, Horace Greeley, and the great
est man of the south, Jefferson Davis,
had now spoken from the sAIpe stand,
advising the same sentimentj that
the war between the Blue and the
Gray was forever ended, and hence
forth they would march shoulder to
shoulder under the same flag. He
paid a noble compliment to Mr.. Gree
ley, and Mr.. Davis for once seemed to
forget his lofty dignity, and cheeret
heartily with Ibe rest.
Commenting on this the New
York HERALD, with injHstiUe to
the noble Lee still ranking in its
breast, says of the above un-
der the heading of
Jefferson Duyis as Last.
We congratulate Jefferson Davis
upon his speech at Houston, GeXas,
in which he called upon The Cd Com
federdte soldiers To give The same de-
votion TO the Stars and Stripes that
they had shown to the flag o the lost
cause. The influence of a man like
jefferson Davis upon the people who
once followed him, if properly eXer-
cised will be of unsFeakable btneft in
the pacfication of the country. We
have always felt that it will be rehIem-
bered to the dlscredlt Of General Lee
that at the close of the war he sank IN
to policy Of apathy and silence, and
did nothing to reconcile the people he
had commanded to the new order oil
things. Mr. Davis could scarcely
have done this, considering his treat
ment by the federal gOFerhment for q
long time after the war. This made II
impossible for him to do anything but
content himself in prison. We can
well pardon the feeling Of resentment
in the heart of the proud and disap-
pointed man which has led him into
many intersections since the war, but
Jefferson Davis has won too great a
place III history for him to throw ii
away by any foolish encouragement OF
the old spirit of rebellion. He lives
in the past. He has written his name
with the few who will be remembered
for all time. The history of the Con-
federacy, forlOrn as it Is, will always
be romantic episode in the history Oi
America. It's defeat will attract the
sympathy of millions who respect va
lor and who mourn over misfortune.
There is nothing left to Jefferson Da-
Wis and his fame but to give the re-
maindef of his years to passifying the
people, TO extinguishing the eulbers oil
war, To the encouragement of patriot
ic affection, and bringing the old rem
nants of the Union together In more
solid and lasting embrace. We sc
cept his speech at Houston as an ear
nest of his spirit and congratulate him
as well as the country upon this evil
dence OF timely, if late and reluctant
DairiOtisln.