The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1889-12-20
TRIBUTE TO MR.. DAVTS.
Rev. Ben. Jones breaches Bis Farewell
sermon Before Going to Conference.


Last Sunday the venerable pastor
of tho Methodist Church here preach
cd his last sermon before going to the
Mississippi Conference to a fair COLI
gregatiom. In the course OF his re-
marks he paid the following tribute
to the memory Of Mr.. DAVIS:
MI. Jefferson Davis has recently
died IN New Orleans, and I will not
let this opportunity pass without
mentioning his nalne aud speaking Of
his virtues. Few men, ii any, are
more widely known Than nc, and null
tiplied thousands of S%oLtlIcrncrs love
his memory ami revere his name. AT
his funeral In New Orleans represent
tatives from every Southern State
were present and large numbers OF
strong men and womc wept as they
looked upon his face Tor The last time.
Citizens Of every grade We'd with each
other in their love and devotion 10 the
h0nored dead. MIR. Jefferson Davis
Ia certainly Ia be classed with the
great men of the earth, lie was well
educated. lie began his collegiate
studies at Pennsylvania University
of Kentucky, and closed them al West
Point Military Academy, New York.
Ills education was turned to good ac-
count. Ills West Point training pre-
pared him TO distinguish himself in
the profession Of arms. Pennsylvania
aided him IN becoming eminent as a
lawyer, a statesman aud rdler.
Mr.. Davis possessed a high order of
intellect and extensive information.
Well balanced as hs was, he made, but
few mistakes. lie was a man of in
tegrity, who accepted The leadership
of the Southern people in the conflict
between the States in 1861, believing
that he was right. | have never seen
a distinct statement setting forth the
causes that led the Southern States to
seccde. Many persons think The main
object was TO %perpciuatc slavery. Bat
there were other causes, where prin-
ciple and right we're involved, of far
higher import to The Southern people.
They comtended for constitutional lib
crty, the authority and rights of the
States, the safety and sacredncss of
home and family, and for personal
The undertaking was a~rluous and
hazardous aud wise men thought II
hopeless from he first. Certainly the
odds were against the South. Success
was seen to be l0ubIfHl by all think
ing men. But The right self-rcspect
must he maintained at all hazards,
aud such men as Jefferson Davis,
Robert f. Lee, Stomewall jackson,
E. Johnston, Sidney Johnson
aud Alexander Stcphems-thc greatest
of the arc IN which they lived
united to sustain, not slavery, but
great principles.
jefferson Davis and others have
been blamed for Huu-accGplance of the
offer made by Mr.. Lincoln Ia close The
and gradually eIuancipate the
in 30 years. II such a prOpnSi-
lion was made, so far as my memory
serves me, it was upon the candiIiOn
that the leaders Of the secession move
should he surrendered as relIels
aud traitors Ia the United States GOv-
prnment. If this be 81, " 10 can ceR-
sure them for Indignantly rejecting 1t
and refusing to subject the Southern
To all the indignitlcs that would
have followed such 4 surrenderH But
suppose The offer had been madcwiIh-
put such humiliating condition, would
surrender have caused the triumph Of
he great principles tor which thew
Great aud true men do not
give up a c0n!est for principle until
hey have exhausted all of their re-
sources. Mr.. Davis suffered patiently
liter he had done all That be could.
lie suffered subhmely 4 great aud
-nol man only could suffer. He was
l grand Christian hero.