Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-05-07
A southern Wan ON Mr. Davis
Speech.

1
A southern Wan ON Mr. Davis
speech.
EDrToR HERALp-In the Times Of the
lst appears half a column purporting to
give the views Of certain Southern men
and Democrats with regard to the late
speech Of Mr.. Davis ut Montgomery, all
of whom, with one exception, condemn
il contemptuously as being at variance
with the sentiments Of the Southern
people. In my opinion, sir, 1t was pre-.
sumptuous for them to speak for any
but themselves, and must say that the
reception Of Nj. Davis In his travels
from Montgomery to Atlanta and thence
to Savannah show that they are wrong
in their appreciation Of the sentiments
Of that people.
Brought up as l was to believe that
governments are instituted for the bene.
| lit Of the governed, aud that when the
governed believe them subversive OF the
ends for which they were formed, they
have the right to change them, 1, In
common with thousands who did not
own slaves, honestly feeling that the
| time for action had come, took service as
private soldier under the Confederate
government; nor did leave it until the
IA til day Of April, 1885, when Gen. Lee
surrendered at Appomatox. | am not
disposed at this late day to in
suit the Federal armies by saying
hat those with whom | was associated
we're towards, traitors and worthy of an
Infamous death. Had General Grant
thought 80, there would have been no
surrender. And yet, Mr.. Editor, there
are those, North and South, East and
West, who, Notwithstanding the lapse of
time, would have US cringe in sack.cloth
and ashes, who would have US reyile the
dead (who are happy and heap billings
gate upon those who took rank among
us as leaders.
Is the Constitution of these United
States changed? Can you show me any
thing in it which makes secession less
the remedy to-day which States may
apply for evils which they may deem
unbearable than was the case quarter
of century ago? Times change, and
States with them. Who can tell
whether or not in the course OF centuries
States, perhaps not yet numbered in the
Union, believing themselves Justified.
may seek successfully to break from the
Union.
The civil war closed over twenty years
ago. The Southern people have accept
ed the situation honestly. They have
been industrious, and to certain extent
have regained their prosperity. The lib
GRAFTON of the slaves has workeda change
among the people, and it 10 probable
that it is to-day as much to their inter
est to maintain the integrity OF the
Union as it is to that OF any other Sec |
ton. But whilst that is the case, no
self.respecting man OF any. country |
would have them come forward and say |
that they were politically and morally
wrong in acting as they did in 1861.
As regards Mr.. Davis, it must be re.
membered that they of Alabama invited |
him to attend the laying of the corner
stone of a monument which they pro-
pose to erect in memory of their dead
upon the field of battle" Could he
have done otherwise, deoently, than &C.
cent the invitation and attend?
Could he have said less than he did,
No, sir; he was in the house of his
friends, speaking to them Of troubles
which are oil the past, and in so doing
IL was his duty to offer them what con-
ISOLATION he could-to speak words OF
praise of the virtues and manhood OF
those in whose memory it was proposed
to erect the monument. Who would
have had him say less than he did is
either more or less than man.
No one knows better than Mr.. Davis
Al. 1. = IS Ha Inns m
bition for place. Nor is the position
in existence which could give him
greater historical prominence than he
now has. But that he should desire
to hold his own among those who have
honored him in the past, and whe still
continue to honor him with their conf
dence is alike credtable to him and no.
BILE in them. That this feeling is not
peculiar TO the Southern born people is
evidenced by the fact that the popula-
ton of Atlanta, city OF 10000 or
so, 600 people, one.third OF which is
northern born aud has settled there since
the year 1865, gave him reception such
as it never vouchsafed to any one living
or dead, and 5000 school children.
white aud black, were placed in line to
strew flowers in his path.
These lines, Mr.. Editor, have been
penned more in sorrow than in anger
sorrow that Southern men now residing
here should be at variance with those
from whom they sprang. But l have
the consolation of knowing that those
veterans of the Federal armies who were
ever ready in closed ranks to obey the
command, forward! are generous and
| In than thara q nj
that petty spirit which makes the coward
hit man that is down. Having accom-
plished their task of holding the Union
together, having been honored by a
grateful people, and appreciatin9 the
horrors of war through which the van
pushed passed, they are not the men to
condemn them for honoring their dead
and for respecting him who did all that
he could to make their cause successful
BE JUST, THoUGH THE HEAVENS FALL.