The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-05-05
Addresses Of Ex,President Davis.
on NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DAY.

When order had been secured in the
crowd, Mayor Reese advanced and intro
duced Mr.. Davis, as follows:
My Countrymen-With emotions OF
profound reverence | introduce the highest
type OF Southern manhood, Hon Jefferson
Davis, ex-President of the Confederate
States of America" [Deafening and pro-
longed applause
DR.. Davis arose and advanced a few
steps until he stood upon the exact spot
where he had been inaugurated in Febru-
airy, 1861. As he stood up the crowd
cheered vociferously, and kept up their
applause for several minutes, Mr.. Davis
standing patiently. partially supporting
himself upon his cane, until the eathusi-
asm OF the crowd had been quieted sufi
cently to permit him to proceed. As he
stood erect the sun burst through the
clouds for the first time to-day and threw
shower OF golden light upon the crowd
and Capitol. 1t continued to shine until
Mr.. Davis had finished, when it again dis
appeared behind the clouds.
The ex-President, leaning on his cane
with a Federal lag just over his he id and
thousands of Confederate veterans, who
had come hundreds OF miles to see him,
spoke in loud, strong and distinct voice,
without tremor or pause, being interrupted
only be the lusty cheering OF has hearers.
MR.. DAVIS SAID:
1t would be vain if | should attempt to
express to you the deep qualification which
feel at this demonstration, but | know
that it is not personal, and, therefore,
feel the more deeply grateful because of a
sentiment far dearer to me than myself.
[Applause.1 You have passed through
the terrible ordeal OF war which Alabama
did not seek. When she felt her wrong
too grievous Tor further liberation, she
sought a peaceable solution. That being
denied her, the thunders of war came and
ragged over the land. Then her people
rose in their majesty: Gray-haired sires
and beardless boys eagerly rushed to the
font 1t was a. war which Christ anity
alone approves-the holy war of defense
Well do remember seeing your gentle
boys, so small, to use the farmers phrase,
they might have been called ''seed corn"
moving on with eager step and fearless
brow TO the carnival of death, and have
also looked upon them when their KNAPP
sacks and muskets seemed heavier than
The boys, and Ger my eyes a mothers
weeping crept. Those days have passed ;
grave, but they are not dead. They live
in the memory and their spirits stand out
the grand reservation of that column
above which is marching on with unialter-
ing steps toward the
GOAL OF CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY.
CCheers and applause.l 1t were vain if |
should attempt, as | have already said, to
express my gratitude to you. | am stand
ing now very near on the spot where |
stood when | took the oath of Office in 1861.
Your demonstrations now exceed that
which welcomed me then. This shows that
the spirit of Southern liberty is not dead
Immense applause. Then you were full
OF joyous hope. with the full prospects of
achieving ali you desired, and now you are
wrapped in the mantle of regret, and yet
that regret only manifests more profoundly
and does not obliterate the expression of
your sentiments.
felt last night as approached The Ex-
change Hotel, from the gallery OF which
your peerless orator, VIM. l.. Yancey, intro
duced me to the people of Montgomery and
commended me in language in which only
his eioquence could, aud which far exceed
ed my merritt felt, say again, that was
coming to my home, coming to the land
where liberty dies not, and heroic senti-
ments will live forever. [AppIause.]
have been promised by my friends that
| should not be called upon to make a
speech, and therefore | will extend to you,
my heartfelt thanks. God bless you, one
and all, old men aud boys, and the ladies
above all others. who never faltered in our
direst needs. CONTINUED cheers.
AT the conclusion of his speech Mr..
Davis stepped back, but the cheering was
so enthusiastic and so long continued that
he was forced to advance again and bow
his acknowledgements. The crowd again
broke into storm OF cheering, which was
some minutes.