The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-04-29

OF war, which Alabama did not seek.
Then she felt her wrongs too grievous
Tor liberation. She sought peaceaole
solution. That being denied her, the
thunders OF war came ringing over the
land. Then her people rose in their
majesty. gray haired sires and
oeardless boys eagerly rushed to the
front. 1t was that war which Chris
tianity .alone approves holy war for
defense. Well do 1 remember seeing
your gentle boys, so small, 20 use q
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 with their knapsacks and musseis
seemingly heavier than the boys. and
my eyes. partaking of mothers weak
ness, 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 in
the grand reserve of that column
which is marching on with
unialiering steps toward the goal of
constitutional liberty. (Applause). 1t
were IN vain If | should attempt, IS
have already said, 10 express my graft
tude 70 you. am standing now very
nearly on the spot where / stood when
| took the oath of office in 1861. Your
demonstration now exceeds that which
welcomed me then. This shows that
the spirit Of southern liberty is not
dead. (Long and continued applause).
Then you were full of joyous hopes.
You had every prospect of achieving
all you desired, and now you are
wrapped In the mantle of regret. and
yet that regret only manifesis
more profoundly and does not
obliterate the expression of your senti-
ments. / felt last night, as 1 APP
PREACHED the Exchange Hotel. from the
gallery OF which your peerless orator,
William l.. Yancey, in PRODUCED me TO
the citizens of Montgomery, and COM
mended me in language which only his
eloquence could yield, and which far
exceeded nv merit. felt, say again,
that was coming to my home, coming
to the land where liberty dies not, and
serious sentiments will live forever.
(Applause). / have been promised. nv
friends, that / should not be called
upon to make a speech, and therefore
can only extend to you my
heartfelt thanks. God bless you,
one and all. old men and boys,
and the ladies above all others, who
never faltered in our direct need. loud
and long continued applause.)
When he retired the shouts were so
long and loud that Mr.. Davis had to go
TO .he front again. He bowed his
acknowledgements and thanks.
Governor 0'Neil, when it was possible
to be heard, made a handsome speech
in reference to the cause of the gather
feel for the statesmen and soldiers of
the south, and introduced General John
B. Gordon, the orator selected to deliver
the address. as in Mr.. Davis feeble
condition IL was understood he could
only speak few minutes.
General Gordon received 4 grand
welcome. as many soldiers thst he had
commanded were present.
His address which, as before stated.
was in furtherance OF the monument
project, was mainly devoted to a state
ment OF the sentiments OF the people of
the north and South, during and after
the war, the comparative resources OF
the two governments in the struggle
and throughout was eulogistic OF the
valor displayed by the soldiers of both
sides.
General Gordon's speech was received
with great pleasure. and at many points
he was interrupted by the approving
shouts of the multitude. His references
to Mr.. Davis and the grandeur of his
life. especially the scenes depicted in
Fortress Monroe. made profound inn
preston, and brought tears TO hun
dreds of eyes. His tributes to the SOL
diers OF both armies. and the contempt
for men who would attempt to detract
from the valor of either. received long
continued shouts of applause.
1t was then announced that Davis
would receive his friends at the City
Hall. Soon after the meeting
and others of the escorting
party had passed through their lines
and reached their carriages, the vast
throng dispersed. As he start.d from
the capitol portico. the artillery doomed
forth and fired salute of one hundred
guns. The same scene of cheering and
waving of handkerchiefs was enacted as
when the procession moved up the
avenue. Mr.. Davis was carried TO the
city hall where a general handshakinc
was INDUCED In, the vast number of
callers only permitting a moment to
each. This ended the days demonstra-
ton. 1t was a grand success, heavy
rain in the morning and after speaking
being the only drawbacks. uni
versal good humor prevailed. There
out details. Fully 5000 people
were on the streets and grounds. No
political significance attaches to the
meeting. 1t was an opportunity for
thousands of Confederate.s soldiers, their
wives and children. TO see Mr.. Davis,
and they came accordingly. 1t has
added largely TO the fund for building
the monument. The streets are crowded
tonight and the hotels are filed to suf-
location. Tomorrow will be an
other big day. The corner stone of the
monument Is to be laid with impressive
in which Mr.. Davis. General
Gordon and other distinguished Con-
federates will be present and take part.
The Masonic frate nifty VIII lay the
corner stone and Mr.. Davis viii put il
in place.