The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-05-07
AN AND DEMOCRAT. BLOOMSBURY, COLUMBIA COUNTY, Pa

there was sufficient quiet Mr.. Davis
said
Associated here with so many MEM
ories thrilling and tender, l have felt
that it were dangerous for me TO at
tempt to speak to you as my heart
would prompt me. Not that | am al
ways treasuring up bitterness against
anyone, but am overhowing with love
and admiration for our beloved people.
Long applause. To avoid therefore.
anything which might be promoted by
the fullness of my heart-for / believe
am case hardened in that condition
of non-citzenship which leaves me very
little to fear (applause)-for the pur-
pose of guarding others rather than
myself, have prepared some notes
that | might read which would not con-
tain anything that would be construct
i've or hurtful. Voices: "Go on say
what you please. You are in the house
of your friends"
My friends, partners in joy and in
sorrow, in trials and in suffering, ]
have come to join you in the perform
ance of sacred task, to lay the foun-
dation of monument at the cradle of
the Confederate Government, which
shall commemorate the gallant sons Of
Alabama who died for their country,
who gave their lives free will offer.
ing in defense of the rights of their
sires, won in tie war of the Revolution
and the State sovereignty, freedom and
independence which was left as an in
heritance to their posterity forever.
These rights the compact of union was
formed net to destroy, but the better
to preserve and perpetuate. Whose
denies this cannot have attentively
read the articles of confederation or
the Constitution of the United States.
The latter was formed and designed
the better to effect the purpose of the
first
With brief reference to the events
of the war and glowing tribuie To- the
valor of General Gordon, the speaker
continued
That we may not be misunderstood
by such as are not wilfully blind, it
may be proper to state in the fore
ground that we have no desire to feed
the fires of sectional hate, while we do
not seek to avoid whatever response
bility attaches to the belief in the right.
eousness of our cause and the virtue of
those who risked their lives to defend
it. Long applause and cheers. Re
venge is not the sentiment of chival-
rous people, and the apothegm that
forgiveness is more easy to the injured
than to those who infict an injury has
never had more powerful illustration
than in the present attitude of the two
sections towards one another. When
your children's children shall ask what
means this monument there will be the
enduring answer: at commentaries
the deeds of Alabama's sons who died
that you and your descendants should
be what your fathers in the war for in
dependence left you"
NOT A REVOLUTION.
Mr.. Davis declared that the action
of the States in annulling the compact
of union, which had been broken on
one side, and forming a new confeder-
alton, was in no sense a revolution, as
sovereigns never rebel and as only
sovereigns can form national league.
If the States had not been sovereigns
there could not have been compact of
union. [ApplaIse. That the South
did not anticipate, much less desire,
war Is shown by the absence of prepa-
ration for it, as we'll as by the efforts
made to secure peaceful separation.
He referred also to the prophecies
and threats of dissolution which had
been heard from the early days of tho
century. They began at the North, on
the question of preserving the balance
of power, and eliminated during the
war of 1912 on the decline of their
trade, though the war was waged for
the protection of sailors rights. He
graphically portrayed the beroism dis
played by the people of the South when
in the belief that their constitutional
rights were being invaded and when
the sad alternative presented itself of
fighting for their State or against it,
they freely offered their lives in de-
fense of the cause.
Though Alabama, like Niobe, must
mourn her children in death, yet is her
woe tempered by the halo which sur
rounds their memory. This monument
will rest upon the land for which they
died and point upward to the Father
who knows the motives as well as the
deeds of His children, and at last rest
ing in the land where justice may be
rendered which may have been denied
them here.
THE DUTY OF THE PRESENT.
In conclusion, permint me to- say,
though the memory of our glorious
past must ever be dear to us, duty
points to the present and the future
Alabama having resumed her place in
the Union, be it yours to fulfill all the
obligations devolving upon all good
citizens, seeking to restore the general
government to its pristine purity, and
as best you may, to promote the well
fare and happiness of your common
country. [Long applause.
Governor Watts then turned over
the rest of the proceedings to the
Grand Lodge OF Masons, who were to
lay the corner stone according to Ma
sonic rules. The beautiful ritual was
literally carried out by Grand Master
-. G. Harris, assisted by the other
Grand Officers and Masons. A great
many things were deposited in the
vault. The first was put in by Miss
Davis and was the Confederate battle.
flag of General w. w. Aliens com.
mand, used during the whole war. Mr.