The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1890-06-28
Read at the Grenada Collegiate Institute at
the Recent Commencement.

plore?
Here in our Southland's central core.
Let the sound of those he wrought for,
And the feet of those he fought for
Echo round his bones forever more.
Lead out the pageant sad and slow.
As fits an universal woe.
Let the long. long procession GO
And let the sorrOwing crowd about 1t grow;
And let the mournful martial music blOW,
The great Confederate is lying low.
The attention of the whole world has re-
Gently been drawn to the spectacle of an en-
tire people weeping around the bier of an
honored soldier. statesman and christian
hero.
For nearly half a century Jefferson Davis
was a central figure in American politics.
Chosen by the South as her leader in the
time Of her greatest need, entrusted with
the reins that were to guide young govern
ment and given the oversight of vast armies
on the tented field, no man ever had greater
responsibilities heaped upon his head than
the man whose martial figure now lies peace
ful and still amid the cenOtaphs and mauso-
leums of the Crescent City. Mr.. Davis had
been the incarnation of the hopes OF the
Soutb. and it was no small matter now that
he WAS held before the bar of the world as
responsible for the sins of whole people
Did he shrink under this load of vicarious
suffering? Did he plead as he might nave
done that he was no more responsible Tor the
secession of the South than the humpleSt
priyate that stepped gaily into the fray
while the band played Dixie" or "Hurrah
for the Bonnie Blue Flag?" He dld not
shrink but manfully taking up the burden
of reproach and calumny. he stood facing
the world. pointing with steady hand to the
bar of Gods eternal justice where all wrongs
are rghted. all sorrows healed. There are
few figures in history worthy to be compared
with that of the lonely chieftain OF the Los'
Cause. pacing the garden walks ut BeauNolt
listening to the wall of the gulf as 1t washed
tbe shell-coyered beach. or writing WIN Il
hand that never faltered, THE Rise and
E.1l of the Confederate Government" De-
MED the right of citizenship ne was Se'
enshrined in the hearts of his people, "hlai
without country" The meanest serVltoi
upon the his plantation could deposit nj
ballot with the air of II monarch, whlle ne
who once held the fate of nation Ill HE
hand. was not free to exercise the right Oh
free-born citizen. Napoleon on his lonely
isle of Flba, or chained to the rocks Oh 81
Helena. was a pgmy compared WIN th'
lone chieftan of the Lost Cause lie
one Of the few leaders who were hohoreo II
} death and who out-lived the cause ne Us
noused in the hearts of his people VIVA
man ever held out so long under such adVer
stiles? A loving people came to do nm nom
ace. Crowds of strangers turned ASIDE IA
, from the madding crowds isnoble striie
. TO view the grandeur of the vanquished ou
,ncopouered hero The whole South lal'
tribute at his feet, and every man VINO Wor
the gray felt that Jefferson DAVIS was " 'oi
c untary sufferer for his sake.
/, Atlast the end came to him as IL mus
. come to all. and Jefferson Davis, VINO ma
: rever bent to any earthly power, was ram
u obev the mandate of the king OF Kings
n Then on the bright December air was porn
y the sound of weeping. The South MS strich
en- mother, like David weeping fof Apsoioh
or;ed ont in anguish. "Oh. my son! my soi
n would God that had died for thee. On! III
, son! my son. u,., a.,
RObed In the COnIeuerh'o s'"5
"stars and bars" for his Winding shec.' II
went rs one who wraps the drapery Oh IL
!, couch about him and lies down to pleasai
|, dreams" Could anyone wish Tor eouc
q more magnificent? The whole sou'hiah
u. mourned at his bier, for in every cot an
- mansion that day, Jefferson DAVIS III
:, in state, the whole people with his mourher'
= =, for in every city and country village III
y y nassing away of his great soul was common
"a Grated.
l. ..Mourn, for to us he seems the last ,,s,
A. Remembering all his greatness III snu p'''
/, No more in soldier fashion VIII ne gteoot got
" With lifted hand the gazer III the S''''"
- - 0Ob, friends our great State oracle Is n bIut
70 Mourn for the man of long enduring I,'t pluV
). The statesman, warrior, moderate feSolu'
he Whole In himself u common good
ic "Mourp for the man of amplcst influence
n Vet clearest of ambitious crime,
:, Our greatest, yet with least pretehSe'
II Great in council, great III war;
n Foremost captain of his time
is Rich in saving common SENSE
- And. as the greatest only are.
aV In his simplicity sublime
he "Oh! good gray head, which all men Nhc"'