New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-07
THE FLAG WAS NOT LOWERED.
SOLITARY AND ALONE AMONG FIFTY EIGHT
SECRETARIES OF WAR.
40 OFFICIAL NOTICE TAKEN OF Mr.. DAV1ss
DEATH BY THE WAR DEPARTMENT
THE DEAD MANS CAREER
rpr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUsE.I
IN WASHINGTON.

Washington Dec. 6.-Nothing proves more con-
cusvey the sometimes fatal facility with when inc
public forgets the past than that there shouu nave
been any discussion whatsoever this morning. "hcn
the news OF jefferson Davis's death reached Washing
ton as to whether the War Department, OF which ne
ves tho Secretary nom 1853 10 1857 would lower the
Gag of the United States at halfmas or not 1t goes
without saving that it was not lowered There was
It Is true no precedent for this case. althOugh inc
nearest 10 such the action of secretary McOredy
February 10, 1875 in ordering the closing OF 'he Do
psrtment the lowering of the flag and the drapng Oh
The building on the day of the funeral OF eA-secreay
Charles NJ Conrad of Louisiana, who was Daviss I'M
mediate predecessor in Office. Conrad was prom-
nent rebel during the war; but his disabilities had
been removed jefferson Daviss had not ana nc
never deemed worth his while 10 ask TO nave thein
removed Secretary Proctor seen this morning ana
asked what the Department would pursue LII IT,
gard to Mr. Davis's death. He said:
al see no occasion for any action Whatever AZ
would subserve no good purpose that can SEE IL Is
better 10 let the matter rest in oblivion, sleep II IL
WILL and TO relegate 1t TO the past than 10 DO any
thing that would revive memories best forgotteh.'
Tho flag of the War Department, which has always
been lowered halfmast when an ex-secreVafy oie9
hoatcd from the top of the hagstaH IN s''o"e
breeze all day. The clerks in the Department were
t their desks as usual officially ignorant Of the death
of Jefferson Davis but painfully conscious that on inc
day of his funeral they would continue at thtir ua9
,on No announcement viii be made TO the ARMY
Solitary and alone among the fifty eight secretaries VI
War who have been may be gathered 10 'heir
fathers Jefferson Davies dies unnoticed ny me DC
partmept over which he presided and unannouhced u
the army which he once commanded The picture OF
Mr. Davis looks down from the gallery of pictures Oh
OK Secretaries which adorn the walls OF the chiel
clerks room In the War Department. No Grape
adorns the picture is customary when an eNoecTe
tary dies nor will any be placed about IT, and the war
Department building as is usual on the death OF an eA
Secretary Will not be clothed in sombre black Jehcr
son Davis died today but TO all inents and purposes
co far as the War Department is concerned he died In
1851.
The only man row living who served undor Secretary
Davis's immediate administration in the Secretary
Office, is Major William b. Lee, who was one OF the
seven clerks then forming tho force in that division
He is still employed in the same office now lie 10
members Mr. Davis well. He said this morning lie
was one OF the best Secretaries Of War WHO ever
served He was a kind. social man, very consdeate
and pleasant 10 serve under. l never heard COM
plant from one Of the clerks. Socially. he was a
most charming man officially, very pleasant He was
a warm friend and bitter enemy. knew him many
wears and as a man l found him good friend. lie
yeas regular bulldog when he formed opinion, for
he would never let CO. About the only very impor-
tant event of his administration was his quarrel with
General scott which very bitter and caused great
deal Of hard feeling"
There persons about the CapNOl now
who were contemporaries of Jefferson Davis when he
was in the Senate, thirty years ago. +. Y. Murphy
one Of the official scnogaphers OF the Senate, was
boy lust beginning shorthand work during tho latter
part of Mr. Davss political career under the National
Government. He remembers Mr.. Davis well and
speaks of him very highly.
"He wasp said Mr.. Murphy TO a Stal" reporter. " 0
nervous energetic speaker and very impressive lie
sroAe rapidly and forcbiy and if he was thoroughly
IN earnest This earnestness and force made MN
highly effective. He a leading man in the Senate
and gave every one who him the impression thai
he was a born leader. He was not demagogue an'
would always take the unpopular side of any question
when he believed he was right In his speeches III the
Senate he was not nearly outSpOken SeceSsionls'
as his colleague, Brown OF Mississippi Brown ap
peared to fear that Davis would stand better with the
people Mississippi than himself and for that reason
took very radical tone in his Southern speeches
But when the time for secession came. he could NOD
make farewell address. Brown burst into tears in
the Office of the secretary Of the Senate and said he
would not do 1t. The galleries were crowded. when
Davis made his farewell address, with young southern
men and boys Davis the leader OF the South and
Judah p Benjamin was its orator. Those were ex-
citing times but there was never such scene as when
were Dacked and when Benjamin ended by saying,
.Tbe South will never surrender. never
never! handkerchies were waved ana thrown into ht
sonate chamber and there was an outbreak such as
have never seen I'm the oenale, , ,,., .
no. c,oaSing az Mr.. Davis's personal qualities, MI
M,rphy said that he was couileou, ana hnd 10 al
"uup"g va strangers said Mr.. Murphy, the I'm
nc 20 bat he was reserved and unapproaohablt
R, re was not so. His quick, nervous temleramei
made him easily nettled ana wheh Ie Wa ",s,u[De
he would sometimes make sharp ietort' Out woui