The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-29
THE DEAD PAST.
lEEE pAyIs sTILI LlvINa
IN an Atmosphere Of Rsgrst-Hs Receives
Ru Ovation from the PoOplS-Gsusral
John B. Gordon Makes an AdmiFa.
BILE Address at Montgomery, Ala.


Ru Ovation from the Poopls-Gensral
John B. Gordon Makes an AduliFa.
BILE Address At Montgomery, Ala.
MpETGoNERY, Ala, April 2S-To.day
will ever bs memorable in the history OF
Alabama. Every locality was represent
ed and many adjacent towns. and villages
poured their entire population into the
streets, At an early hour the sidewalks
we're so densely packed that locomotion
was difficult. 1t had rained all night and
poured down until 10 o'clock. The hour
for delivering the addresses by Mr., Davis,
and General Gordon was changed to two
p. N, Instead OF going to the park
1t was decided to 60 to the cap
itol grounds and for the speeches
TO be made from the very spot where Mr..
Davis took the oath Of office Ra President
OF the Confederate States. This change
was made because Of the muddy condition
OF the park. The entire city is gayly dec
Grated and the city hall has United States
days tuttering out Of the windows. Pic.
lures OF Confederate Generals arc fastened
tn the outside walls, while the names OF
Robert l.. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Albert
sydney Johnson and many other Confed.
crate Generals appeared on streamsEs.
ANXIOUS TO sEE DAVIS,
The Bcenes around Mr.. Davis this morn,
ing and the great desire to SEQ and shake
hands with him are Undesirable. People |
were literally packed In the Exchange
Hotel and 1t was with difficulty that there |
was entrance and exit. They wanted to
see their old President and nothing would |
satisfy them until that had done so. Be- |
ing feeble 1t was more than he could stand |
and he had 10 retire. The military escort |
formed in front OF the hotel and extended |
far up the avenue leading TO the Capitol.
II was necessary 10 form u square in order
that the procession might move.
AT . o'clock Mr.. Davis, escorted by
Mayor Reese, Governor 0'Neil and ex-
Governor Watts, formerly Of his cabinet,
stepped from the hotel and entered the
carriage, The next carriage contained
General John B. Gordon and Captain W.
L. Bragg, Miss Winnie Davis, the youngest
daughter Of Mr.. Davis, aud Miss Reese,
the Mayors daughter,
When the procession arrived at the
Capitol gate the way was cleared for Mr..
Davis, the military being formed 80 as to
prevent ovar.running the building aud
grounds before he had reached the place,
IN the rear OF OF Mr.. Davis were members
Of various organizations interested In the
building ot the monument which 1t Il
proposed to erect on the hill, and
Immediately north ofthe Capitol,
MR. DAVIS SPEECH.
Mr., Davis on being introduced to tie
audience said:
My FRIENDs:-It would be vain II l
should attempt to express to you the deep
qualification which ! feel at this demon
stration. But know that 1t Is not per
sonal and therefore | feel more deeply
grateful, because II Is a sentiment far
dearer 10 me than myself. You have
passed through the terrible ordeal Of
war which Alabama did not seek, When
she felt her wrongs TOO grievous for fur.
ther tolerance she sought the peaceable
solution. That being denied her the
thunders oil war came ringing over the
land. Then her people rose In their
majesty. Grey.haired slres and beard.
less boys eagerly rushed TO the front.
II was that war which Christianity alone
approved-a holy war for defense. Well
do remember your gentle boys, 80 small,
To use a farmers phrase, they might have
been called seed corn, moving on with
eager step and fearless brow TO the car.
niVal OF death; and have also looked
upon them when their knapsaCks and
muskets seemed heavier than the boys,
and my eyes, partaking Of q mothers
weakness, filed with tears. Those days
have passed. Many Of them have found
nameeBs graves, but they are not dead.
They live In memory, and their spirits
stand but, the grand reserve OF that col.
umn which 10 marching on with unfalter.
ing step toward the goal Of constitutional
liberty. [Applause.]
AN HISTORIC SPOT.
1t were in vain II l should attempt, as
l have already said, to express my graft.
tude to you. I am standing now very
nearly on the spot where stood when
took the oath Of Office In 1851. Your
demonstration now exceeds that which
welcomed me then. This shows that the
spirit Of Southern liberty is not dead.
Long continued applause. Then you
were full Of joyous hopes; YOU had every
prospect Of achieving that which you de.
sired, and now YOU are wrapped In the
mantle Of regret; and yet that regret
only maniiests more profoundly and
does not obliterate the expression
OF your sentiment, l felt last night as
approached the Exchange hotel, from the
gallery Of which your peerless orator,
William L. Yancy, introduced me 10 the
citizens Of Montgomery and commended
In language which only bis eloQuenCe
could yield, and which far exceeded my
merrill felt, say again, that ! was com.
ing home, coming to land where liberty
dies not and serious sentiments will live
forever. (Applause) 1have been prom.
ised, my friends, that should not be
called upon 10 make speech, and there.
fore will only extend 10 you my heart
felt thanks.
God bless YOU, one and all, old men
and boys, and the ladies' above all others,
who ever followed In our direst need.
Loud and long continued applause.
When he retired the shouts were 90
long and loud that MI. Davis had 10 70 10
the front again. He bowed his aCknowl.
edgement and thanks,
GENERAL aoRDoN's sPEEoH.
General John B. Gordon was next in:
troduced and spoke as follows:
This ground Ia "historic'' because Il was
the home Of d race antedated the red man
by centuries; because the Spanish Caya.
liers pitched their tents upon these hills
nearly 200 years agoi beCauae II was the
probable hifth,plsCe and home Of Weather.
more aud TeCumseh, but, more than all,
because here was born the "Coniedefate
States Of America" Here, amidst the
prayers and hopes, the aspirations and ap.
prehensions Of q proud, brave, free and
ffsedom.loying people, was Christened the
young republic, .deetlned 10 only four
vears Of meteofic life % d nation, but 10