The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-05-30

essential TO any people resolved to be
free, great and noble. Civil and religious
liberty were the Cornerstone Of the Con-
federacy. Never was there a republic
more catholic in its religious spirit
Whether the citizen should be Hebrew
or Christian. Baptist or Protestant was
wisely left 20 the individual conscience
but for public positions God-fearing men
were preferred. Chaplalns In the army
were appointed from all sects. An Israel
itish statesman. Judah =. Benjamin. was
chosen for a Cabinet office: the revered
congressman from the metropolitan dis
trict OF Georgia was a Hebrew Of the
Hebrews Among our great commanders
were Beauregard. the Roman Catholic;
Lee, the Episcopalian; Jackson. the Pres
byterian; Colquitt. the Methodist !;
STEPHEN d. Lee the Baptist. Davis. while
never demonstrative in religion, was. at
bottom, a devout believer in God. How
often he expressed his reliance in
the wisdom. goodness, and love Of
the Almighty. He issued frequent pro-
carnations for days OF fasting and prayer
his inaugural address on becoming per-
manent President Of the Confederate
States closes with an impassioned prayer
10 Jehovah for the success Of what he
believed TO be a just and righteous cause.
Davis was no medieval saint: no, he, was
human, and doubtless erred as a man
and as public officer. The sun has spots,
but they are invisible obscured by its
ehulgent rays. So his faults. whatever
they may have been. were ecllpsed by
his splendid public virtues His courage
was sublime; duty was his Inspiration
ana guide; his official career was I'm
furnished; ms private character was that
OF Christian gentleman without fear and
"ithout reproach. Davis and the citizens
who sustained him at home and the
soldiers who fought under him I'm the field
were immovable In the conviction that
righteousness evaileth a nation and sin
IS reproach 10 any people" And now
he, though dead. speaketh this solemn
message TO the American people.
America needs that message. Let
Americans OF our day remember that
atheism and anarchy 20 together: in
idelity and national decay are linked bv
bands forged by the Discriminate counsel
and fore-knOwledge Of the Lord God
Almighty. a dishonored God means
nothing less than a DESTROYED people.
thurches represent a power more potent
Tor the preservation Of our national char
acter and greatness than army or navy
or national legislature, OF all combined
The school-master is above the senator
the Sunday school above the Senate How
we need 10 remember this great lesson,
At this time more than ever when all
the world IS invited 10 these shores 10 re-
view the wondrous progress Of the nation
since its discovery by Columbus. the most
worthy object to exhibit TO the congress
OF the nations is the piety Of a free peo-
pie. And / do not hesitate to add that
the most convincing demonstration OF this
piety would be the preservation Of one
day In seven for rest 10 all and for wor-
ship for all who wish 10 worship. Puri-
tanism Is long since dead in this country.
and with IT died the old Puritan Sabbath.
Let II sleep in a resurrectiOnless grave.
Rest and worship on one day I'm seven,
however, and that day the one preferred
by the majority Of our citizens. the bene-
fits Of the American Sunday. are basal
10 the continuance Of our natural life.
John Bright declared 10 the English peo-
pie: 1.-THE stability Of n government can
never be maintained along with the secu.
larzation Of the Lords day" Pope Leo
XIII recently remarked: Would Europe
see another French Revolution. then let
them forget Gods day"
And so / say that the hope ave- the
very life. Of our common country. de-
ponds I'm no small degree upon its return
to the creed, character. and conduct Of
the fathers Of the "Old South" 10 its
home life its religious principles, It's po-
Hlicdl doctrines, us nlgn citizenship, its
pure patriotism its unselfsh LOYALTY.
Southern characteristics must persist.
And so we need a monument TO Davis. a
monument erected on massive founda-
lions, deep and broad, and strong. such
as would represent the sturdy principles
Of the people I'm whose hearts he IS en-
shrined a high monument piercing the
skies 20 typify his lofty sense Of honor
and duty; a monument which will resist
the wasting action Of the elements: a
monument on whose spacious sides
should be inscribed the sentimental noble |
patriot, worthy Of all Americas admira-
tiOn who gave himself I'm veal and Woe |
in life and death. for us, for individual |
manhood FOR the rights of the States. |
for the freedom OF the South; aye. for the |
principles Of the Union. as these were |
handed down 10 us by the fathers Of our |
common country.