National Republican., 1883-04-09
THREE GREAT GENERALS.
Jefr Davis Eulogizes Lee, jackson, and A.
s. Johnston-The Monument TO the Lat

JeT Davis Eulogizcs Lee, jackson, and A.
s. Johnston-The Monument 90 the Lat
ter,
NEW ORLEANS, April s.-Mr. jefferson
Davis, in his speech ON Friday on Albert Sid
ney Johnston, delivered at tho ceremony of
laying the corner stone of d monument TO the
dead leader, said that the people Of New Or
leans were about to raise o monument to q
man whose equal was not TO be found in his
tory. Louisiana was especially q place for
monument to Albert Sidney Johnston because
his first commission in tho army was from
that state. He was q cadet of Louisiana. He
(the speaker) had seen Gen. Johnston on
many trying circumstances and in case of ex-
treme peril, and he had never seen a man
whose purposes were so fixed, whose mind
was calmer, whose daring greater, than AL
great and morally sublime. His life was
devoted to duty. 1t was in the dis
charge of that duty that he died on
the field of Shiloh in the moment
Of victory, when probably one half hour more
would have made Grant prisoner or fugi-
tive. Dying, he left the record of stainless
life and n great name, and that good reputa-
tion without which glory is but an empty
sound. No language could convey what the
speakers heart desired to express concerning
Gen. Johnston. When Albert Sidney Johns
ton had como to offer his services for the war
it had seemed to him that a strong pillar was
placed under the confederacy, and when he
fell at Shiloh it appeared that the mightiest
column that sustained the cause had fallen
shattered to the ground. He was so calm,
daring, intrepid, and immovable that every
body gave way to him. His love of liberty
was so great that when he went to Texas to
espouse his cause he sought no office, but
gladly served in the ranks.
Such merits as his were like q light that
could not be hid under bushel. Gen. Zach
ary Taylor recognized his merits, but Gen.
Johnston rendered services for which he was
never rewarded. Little politicians were
searched for all over the land to be made gen.
erals in the army of Mexico, but Sidney john
ston could not get promotion. These little
politicians showed more sense than the ap-
pointing power, for they got the lieutenants
in the army to tell them what to do. Men
were given appointments not for their abili-
ties, but for their political standing. This
kind of civil service reform would not do.
The speaker could say nothing which his
auditors did not know of Sidney Johnston.
He appreciated the generous natures which
prompted the decoration Of the graves of the
confederate dead, and which had inspired
the erection of monuments for tho
confederate leaders. Eras in history
had been marked by great military chief
tains, and it was seldom that single
generation produced even one. Mr. Davis
thought he might defy criticism when he said
that the confederacy had three great leaders
who wonld compare with the leaders of anti
guilty or any in modern times. Fighting the
whole world almost, without sufficient arms,
ammunition, and transportation, history
would do justice to the confederate army and
tho southern people, who sustained the proud
est record of the power of intellect to combat
with matter that the world has ever wit
messed. Mr. Davis in conclusion, said he
spoke to men who were more than historians,
because they were the subjects of history. and
could realize the greatness of the character Of
Albert Sidney Johnston.
At the banquet in the evening Mr.. Davis
reiterated his statement that the confederacy
had produced three great generals, and New
Orleans was honoring each with memorial
Lee, Jackson, and Albert Sidney Johnston.
Ex-senator James b. Eustis yentured at the
banquet to pay tribute to Gen. Joseph Z.
Johnston, but it elected manifestations of u
different character from those which Mr..
Davis drew out Gen. Beauregard was absent
in Mobile, and, it is noticed that he and Mr..
Davis do not allow themselves to meet on oc-
casions like this.