The Opelousas courier., 1889-12-28
An Eloquent Tribute.

~. ~. lImeE-DehlecEhS
The Augusta Chronicle of Dec. IL
prints at length o most eloquent O
ton. delivered in that city before the
C~onfederass Survivors Association, on
the occasion of the obsequies in honor
of Jefferson Davis by Col. Charles z.
Jones, Jr., the well-known Southern
author and distinguished historian, OF
Georgia. and brother of Prof. Joseph
Zones. Of this city. After reviewing in
a ~succinct and mastery manner the ca
reer of the great Southern leader, Col.
Jones closed his Grafton with the follow
ing words:
In his quiet home at Beauvoir, emo
bled by the presence of the live-oak-
that monarch of the Southern forest
beautiied by the queenly magnolia
neutrality-suspicious. of the perfumes
Of a semi-tropical region, famed by the
soft breezes from the Gulf, and cheered
by exhibitions of respect, affection and
veneration most sincere, President Ia,
Wis passed the evening of his eventfui
life. Since the hush ofthat great storm
which convalsed this land, he has borne
himself with q dignity and a compos-
nre, with a fidelity to Confederate ira
ditions, with q just observance OF, the
proprieties of the situation, and with an
exalted manhood worthy of all admlra-
ton.
Conspicuous for his gallantry n
| ability as o military leader-promlnent
as a Federal Secretary of War.as a
Senator and statesman renowned I'D the
political annals of these United States
-illustri0us for all time as the Presi-
dent Of a nation which, although main
tanning it's existence for only a brlef
space, bequeathed glorious names, mo-
table events and proud memories which
will survive the flood of years-most
active, intelligent, and successful IN VIM
| dicating the aims, the impulses, the
| rights and the conduct of the Southern
people during their phenomenal strug-
Gle for independence-his reputation
abides unclouded by defeat, unimpaired
by the mutations of fortune n the
shadows of disappointment.
Surely no token of affection can be
too mark of respect too en-
phatic-no rendition of honor too o q
spicuous-no funeral tribute too impos-
ing for this dead chieftain of the South
Dead, did ] say
"To live in hearts We leave behind
Is not to die
Even now his name is upon every
Southern lip, aud his memory enshrin-
ed in every Southern heart.
Even now, all through this brave
Southland funeral bells are tolling biz
requiem. The bravest and the knight.
hest are reverently bearing his precious
body to the tomb. Benedictions, in
voked by lips touched with a live Goa
from off the altar, are descending likt
the dew of Hermon. Pions drops be
dew the cheeks of noble women. ant
the heads of stalwart men are bowed il
grief. The hour is holy, and the occa
sion most privileged.
III bidding farewell to our President
we rejoice that, by a kind Providence
it was granted unto him to spend in on
midst
His twelve long hours
Bright to the edge of darkness then the caln
Repose of twilight-and o crown OF stars"
We rejoice that he was permitted Il
render back his great spirit into th
hands of the God who gave it, surround
ed by devoted friends, accompanied b.
] the loves Of Southern hearts, and ami
the comforts of the metropolis of th
South. We rejoice that having attain
ed unto the full measure Of human lif
! and enjoyed the highest honors whic
Southern hands could offer-alf mum
dane cares overpast-he has, as we con
fdently believe, s~erenely entered int
that Upper Realm where there az
!. trees Of unfading loneliness, pave
ments of emerald, canopies of brigltel
radiance, gardens Of deep and tranqu
security, palaces of proud and statel
f decoration. and q city of lofty pinnacle
through which there increasingly flow
the river Of gladness, and where jubile
i is ever rung with the concord of SER
b phic voices.n