St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-04-29
Montgomery, Ala, Crowded With Noted
Southerners to Listen to Jefferson
Davis Address.
The Ex-President of thu Defunct Confed-
eracy Talks About the Cause of
the Rebellion.
And is Rapturously Applauded by the
Thousands of Ex-SOldters and
CfIiZens.
A Coincidence Noted in His Speaking
From Where He Took the Oath
of Office.
Memorable occasion.


poured their entire population into the
streets. At an early hour the sidewalks
were so densely packed that loeomotion was
difficult. 1t had rained all night and
poured down until 10 o'clock, so the hour
for delivering the addresses by Mr.. Davis
and Gen. Gordon was changed to p. III.
instead of going to the park it was decided
to go to the capitol grounds and for the
speeches TO be made from the very spot
where MI. Davis took the oath of office as
president of the Confederate states. This
change was made because of the
muddy condition of the park. The
entire city was gayly decorated and
the city hall had United States
flags fluttering out OF every window. Pic
lures of confederate generals were fastened
to the outside walls while the names of
Robert Z. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Albert
Sydney Johnston, Robert e. Rodes and
many other confederate generals appeared
On the StreamerS. The capitol was beautl-
fully decorated. From the topmOst part on
the high dome, towering far above every
thing in the city, foated the stars and
stripes. The entire front was covered
with streamerS and devices, while there
was suspended along the front columns i'm
mense federal flags reaching down almost
to the heads of the speakers. More federal
flags floated in Montgomery to-day than at
any time since 1860, The private houses
and business houses all had a liberal sup
ply of decorations and devices, and words
of welcome to Mr.. Davis. The scenes
around Mr. Davis this morning, and the
great desire to see and shake him by the
bhand are Undesirable. People were literally
PACKED INTO THE EXCHANGE,
and it was with difficulty that there was
nd nxyif I'D To
their old president, and nothing would
satisfy them until they had done so. Be
ing feeble, it was more than he could stand,
and he had to retire. The military escort
formed in front of the hotel and extended
far up the avenue leading to the capitol.
1t was necessary to form square in order
that the procession might move. Companies
were formed and stretched out on each side.
No one was allowed inside the lines. A
carriage with four white horses was drawn
up to the door, and promptly at 2 o'clock
Mr.. Davis, escorted by Mayor Reese, Gov.
O'Neal and eX-GOv. Watts, formerly of his
cabinet, stepped from the hotel and entered
the carriage. The shouts of the multitude
as he was seen to emerge from the hotel
were lounder than ever heard in this city,
They had the peculiar nervous jerk which
characterized what became famous as the
''yell of the Southerners" the world over.
The next carriage contained Gen. John B.
Gordon and Capt. w. l.. Bragg, Miss Win
ME Davis, the youngest daughter of Mr..
Davis, and Miss Reese, the mayors daugh-
ter. The next carriage contained W. w.
Screws, Mrs. Gordon, Miss Gordon and
Miss Walker. The latter Is neice of Mr..
Davis. Other carriages followed with the
trustees Of the monumental association and
the governors staff. Amid the waving of
hats and handkerchiefs, the booming of
cannon, the playing of bands of music and
excited shouts, a scene was presented rarely
witnessed in any country, the demonstration
being in honor of man prescribed by the
United States government, and as tribute
to the dead soldiers of a cause that was
lost, The route of procession was about
half 4 mile long. The avenue is very WIDE
but the crowd when it began to move was
packed from one side to the other. When
the procession arrived at the capitol gate,
the way was cleared for Mr.. Davis the
military being formed so as to prevent over
rnnning the building and grounds before he
had reached the place. He was seated
near the historic spot he occupied
FEBRUARY Is, 1861.
Arranged in front was a place for the
press, and on the sides and in the rear of
Mr.. Davis were members of the various
organizations interested in the building of
the monument, which it is proposed to erect
on the hill and Immediately north of the
capitol. When order had been secured.
Mayor Reese advanced to the stage and
said:.
Ny countrymen: 1t is wi tn profound emo
tion that present to you the foremost type
OF Southern manhood, the Hon. Jefferson
Davis, ex-president Of the Confederate States
of America.
The scenes heretofore enacted were gone
over as Mr.. Davis advanced, and it was
some minutes before he could proceed. The
shouts finally dying away. Mr.. Davis lean.
ing Oh his cane, with the Federal flag over
him and Confederate veterans before him,
i'll a clear ringing voice, showing the deep
intensity of his feelings, but without a
tremor or pause, except when interrupted
by shouts of his hearers, said:
my Friends: 1t would be vain if should
attempt to express to you the deep gratifica-
tion which I feel at this demonstration. But
l know that it is not personal and therefore,
! feel more deeply grateful, because it is q
sentiment far dearer to 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 further
federation she sought the peaceable solution.
That being denied her, thunders of war came
ringing over the land. Then her people rose
! in their majesty, ,gray-haired seers and beard
} less boys eagerly rushed to the front. 1t was
J that war which Christianity alone approved a
: holy war for defense. Well do L remember
SEEING YOUR GENTLE BOYS
so small, to use a 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 knapsacks and muskets seemed
heavier than the boys, and my eyes, partak-
ing of mothers weakness, filed with tears.
Those days have passed; many of them have
found nameless graves, but they are not
dead; they live in memory and their spirits
stand out, the grand reserve of that column
which is marching on with unfaltering foot
steps toward the goal of constitutional lib
erty. Applause. 1t were in vain if ] should
attempt, as / have already said, to express
my gratitude to you. 1 am standing now
very near 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 and con-
tinued applause. Then you were full
of joyous hopes, you had every
prospect of achieving all you deserved and
now you are wrapped in the mantle of regret,
and yet that regret only manifests more pro-
foundly and does not obliterate the express
sion of your sentiments. felt last night as
! approached the Exchange hotel, from the
gallery of which your peerless orator William
L. Yaneey, introduced me to the citizens of
Montgomery and commended me in language
which only his eloquence could yield and
which far eXcelled nay merit, felt. 1 say
again, shat / was coming TO my home-com-
ing to land where liberty dies not and seri-
GUS sentiments will live forever. Applause |
] have been promised, my friends, that L shall
not be called upon to make a speech, and
therefore will only extend to you my heart
felt thanks. God bless you, one and all, old
men and boys, and the ladies above all others,