The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-05
WORK OF MISSISSIPPI LADIES.

The ladies Of Mississippi have just demon
strated what noble and patriotic women can
do when they devote themselves heart and
soul TO the accomplishment of any purpose,
no matter what the obstacles to be met. Five
years ago the ladies of that State formed
themselves into Confederate monument
association and at once addressed themselves
to the task of raising funds for one Of the
handsomest memorials TO the heroic Con-
federate dead 10 be found in the South. In
season and out Of season they labored assldu-
ously, determined not TO relax their efforts
until their work should be crowned with sue
cess
The result has been eminently satisfactory
and on Wednesday last the splendid monu-
ment at once a tribute to the valor OF South
ern men and the devotion of noble Southern
women. was unveiled at Jackson by daugh-
ter of ex-President Davis in the presence of
number of the surviving heroes of the South
ern cause and of not less than twenty thou
sand visitors. no doubt the much greater pro-
portion of whom have been born since that
cause was lost at Appomattox. And there this
perpetuate to posterity the deeds of their gal
liant ancestors and be a mute but forcble
teacher to generations yet unborn that their
forefathers were not traitors or rebels, but
were men ready to sacrifice even life itself for
principles which they deemed sacred
What the ladies of Mississippi have done
for their Confederate dead is only in line with
Al, LII, - ~, Cfota 81
have done since the war;I but there is yet
another labor of love which all should unite
in concentrating, and that is fitting m0nu-
ment TO eX-President Davis. He of all the
Southern martyrs is prominently deserving
of testimonial of Southern love and venera-
ton. When the war was over the magnani-
nous GU Northern victors were perfectly will
ing to forgive all the Southern rank and file
Except poor Wirz, who WAS hanged because
he could take no better care of the
prisoners whom Grant, Sherman. Seward and
Lincoln forced to remain at Andersonyillel,
and all the Southern leaders of the conflict
except Mr. Davis The line must be drawn at
him. He must be the vicarious sulfe rer for
the alleged sins of all the Southern people,
and in his person treason" was to be made
odious Hence it was that while others were
at liberty and treated as honorable citizens
he was shut up in close prison at Fortress
Monroe with manacles fastened TO his
feeble limbs and subjected 10 every posi-
BILE annoyance and indignity. The disabilities
of all others might.be removed but as for him,
he was TO remain political outcast. never
again to be permitted to fill any position of
trust or honor. When Hon Jacob Thompson
died Federal flags were lowered at half-mast
on account of his former services to the Union;
but when Mr. Davis died, although his illus
trious record in the Mexican war and as Sec
rotary of War in Pierces Cabinet were every
where admitted, flags on Federal buildings
throughout the South were kept conspicu-
ously flying TO the breeze from the very top
most point of the flagstaff. even though they
were surrounded on all sides by Grape and
furled banners, indicative of the deepest
grief of the people. No honor, however trivial,
was allowed to be paid the memory of the
dead arbitrator"
The Southern people owe il to themselves
to erect magnificent monument MIR Davis
so as to show that just in proportion as the
enemies of the South seek to hold him up to
scorn and obloquy they are determined to
hand down his memory TO the veneration Of
posterity. A call has been issued to all
the ex-Confederate CAMPS and organizations
TO meet on the 18th instant to take the initia-
tory steps for raising the necessary funds for
this purpose. If the ladies of the South will
lend their valuable aid to the proposed work
there will be no doubt of its perfect success