The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-29
RALLYING AROUND JEFF.
AN OVATION AT MONTGOMERY TO
THE Ex-PRESiDENT.

Who Revisits the Scenes of Twenty-Five
Years Ago-Historical Ground Worked
on with the Stars and Stripcs-Gen.
Gordon's on War Memories.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, April 29.-Jefierson
PAWS left his home at Beauvoir, Miss, ae-
companied Ey his youngest daughter, at II
Tuesday morning They were in special
car in charge of a committee of citizens of
Montgomery who went to escort them. The
arrival at every station was the signal for a
demonstration. At the stopping places be-
tween this city and Mobile great crowds
gathered, the loeal militia companies fired
saiutes, children waived handkerchiefs and
shouted, and all pressed to the car TO shake
the hand of the man who led the cause of the
south during the war times Many one
legged and one armed sol1iers were waiting
to see HIM, and ali had shouts Of welcome
Mr.. Davis stood or sat at the rear of the
car. He was too feeble to speak, but gave
a hearty hand shake to all.
The train reached herr at 5 O'Clock Tues
day night The scene has never been equaled,
and eclipsed the inaugural reception in 1861.
Houses We're Illuminated, fireworks bright
ened the heavens, artillery doomed,
AMI dozen bands played, while the
shouts of thousands mingled with the
roar and added to its volume. The
10 al military companies aud Governor
O'Neal and staff were at the depot to re-
ceive Mr. Davis 1t was difficult for the
carriage in which he sat, which was drawn
by four white horses, to make its way
through tine surging mass OF humanity that
blocked the streets All this despite rain
from above and the muI beneath Arrived
ut the Exchange hotel shout after shont
greeted his entrance. Tho reception was
the grandest of his life The decorations on
houses were elaborate, and the United States
flag iioated from every window. Mr.. Davis
special car was handsomely draped and
national ensigns were conspicuous.
The occasion is a lecture by him and an
address by Gen Gordon in aid of the nionu-
ment to te erected here to the soldiers of
Alabama who fell in the war.
At i O'Clock v WedneSlay the procession
formed on Commerce street and marched
up Dexter avenue to the capital, where Mr.
Davis delivered his address The presi-
uCnl ttlt III II ftstat EiSt uThNH ny iDHT
gray horses and driven 10y the same negro
coachman who performed the same duties
when Mr.. Davis came here in 1861. The
military followed close behind the carriage
to keep hack the enthusiastic throng of
people, As the procession moved along,
the mass of humanity cheered
until their throats were sore The like was
never seen before and will never repeat
itself.
Mr.. Davis is in good health and cheerful
lie looks very much as he did twenty years
ago, except that he has full gray beard
His step Is firm and elastic; form erect with
a manly bearing, proud and courtly. From
the dome OF the capitol q union flag is float
ing. Another iiutters over every spot where
Mr. Davis stood when he was president OF
the confedoracy, and became the peoples
chief and burdcn-bearer.
Mr. DAVIS speech was short The orator
of the day was Gen. J. b. Gordon, who,
after eulosi2ing the ex president of the Con,
federacy, spoke as follows:
Il am not of those who sympathixe with
the spirit of that narrow though patriotic
citizen OF England who declared that high
praise of the Romans was detraction of the
BritoEs. Nor can / suppress contempt for
that myopie statesmanshp--th political
amaurosis IN this country sees in
Inerited tributes to Confederates implied
detra tion of the valorous Federals TN the
other hand, | Acknowledged inferiority to
no man in admiration of the broad liberal
ity which prompted the eff
fort of Charles Sumner to strike
from the flags of the Union the names of
the battles between his estranged and embit-
tered couutrymen; yet | subscribe neither
to its policy nor to its justice. All honor to
the spirit of the man who. facing storm of
political wrath, could rise to the lofty pur
pose of dsstroying all menIentoes of north
ern triumph over his southern country
men All honor to the eloquent utter
ances by which he sought to make
practical his magnanimous coneep-
ton! But / utterly dissent from the
opinion that such obliteratlon was either
essential to the fraterni2ation of the sections
or just to the intrepid armies of the Union
The one thing essential to the manhood and
self-respect and, therefore | repeat, to the
patriotism of the people. is that exact
historic Justice shall be meted to each army
and all sections. Let malicious detraction
cease; let envy-which ensaves ignoble
minds find no place in the breast of any
lover of truth With what measure ye mete.
1t shall he measured to you again" A just
appreciation of the motives that impelled
and of tho heroism which sustained each
army and section in their Titanic conflict, is
the sy mbol as well as sustsnance of patroit-
ism. Liberal criticism is not only unpatri-
otic-it is Irrational, Merited encomiums of
southern hefoism is implied euiogy of north
era prowess, which, inspired by devotion to
the union of the states and sus-
tained through privations and blood
by the profouadest convio tons brought al
la5 this lion hearted section to defeat and
surrender On thu other hand, laudations
OF tha great commanders of tie Army OF
the Potomac and of their fearless followers
and the monuments built to their memory
are monuments also to Lee and his bare
footed and hungry heroes, who for fou,
bloody years Kept those vast numbers al
bay, and in the space of three years de-
feated and forced from the supreme com.
mand at least five OF these renowned Federal
captains"
Gen. Gordon then reviewed the causes
that enabled the south, with total enlisted
force of S00,001 men, to resist Tor four years
the northern armies, which brought into the
field =, SOC, 900. He considered that 1t was
the fact that with the south war was a fight
for self defense
Big Shipment of Trotting Stock.
NEW YORK, April 1a-The eleven car.
loads of trottipg stock shipped by Senator