The state chronicle., 1893-05-30
TUESDAY MAY, 30, 1893.
The MANIFES SrATION TO-DAY.


and who was the most eminent citl-
zen of our Southern country. 9th
er lands have had their heroes, their
statesmen, their honored sons,
whose lives shed lustre upon their
annals, and the South with pride
presents to the world the names of
Davis. of Lee, of Jackson as chief
among brilliant galaxy who de-
serve to rank with the fore most men
of the ages.
In the glorious period when the
Confederated States were but vast
field of heroic deeds and of heroic
sacrifice; where the spirit of our
men and women was exemplitied in
a continual oblation on the altar of
patriotism, tie central figure of all
was Jefferson Davis. With what
pride was he then regarded How
ardently was he loved How CRATE
fully did the people turn towards
him How his talents and genius
shone resplendant in those days of
lofty endeavor, and what beautiful
sympathy be dis splsyed in the midst
of an instant at1liction and contin-
ual sorrows.
Whatever he wrote touched the
hearts of the people and moved
them to yet greater efforts for the
maintenance OF their independence.
And when he spoke it was like some
brilliant meteor that illum,ned the
dark hour of the night,
He was master of speech, be-
cause his words came from the
heart and with unstudied effort he
touched responsive chords in the
breasts of the people On one &C.
casion he surpassed himself. It
was in the final hours of the con-
test.
As the struggle progressed with
varying fortunes, the people Of the
Confederacy put an abiding faith
in their patriotic President His
public words went to their hearts.
He was the embodiment of the
cause for which sons had fallen
husbands had perisned, and for
which the women were ready to
offer themselves as sacrifice. He
was dear to the hearts of the peo
pie. They gloried in his leadership
They gloried in his excellency Of
character, in his high ability, in hi
lofty nature. 1t was not doubted
that our enemies would weary O
their waste of life and treasures
that peace would be won, tina
the Southern Confederacy woult
maintain its independence and es
tablish it's place among the Nations
But it was not to be so. Adversit,
befell the cause of the Republic
The gal'antry of the Confederat
soldiers that had won such glor
for their battle. flag was unavailin
against the Antean hosts of thei
adversary. 1t was the day of tri,
for Jefferson Davis.
To him had been committed th
sacred ark of his peoples liberty
the responsibilities of his charg
weighed him down. Hope becam
dim. His heart sickened under th
adverse turn of affairs. Who sha
tell of the torture he endured
who relate how sorrow and agon
possessed him, But in those hou
of anguish he maintained the u
Tightness of the perfect man, ar
displayed an exalted heroism tn
beftted the Chief Representa-
of the Southern people. He hs
longed for peace but it came nc
At length, in the winter of 1856
'65, proposition was made for {
armistice, giving the Southern Stat
an opportunity to consider the
situation, but with the expectati,
that sooner or later they would I
turn to the Old Union. Success
ing so doubtful, Mr.. Davis eager
assented. In the end Preside
Lincoln repudiated the prop
sition, exacting unconditional su
mission. On the return of t
peace commissioners, Mr.. Davis a
pealed to the people to rema
steadfast He delivered spec
in Richmond which Alexand
Stephens describes thus: "Ma
who heard this master of oratory
his most brilliant displays in t
Senate and on the Hastings Sc
they never before saw MIR. Davis
really majestic. The occasion a
the effect of his speech as we'll
the circumstances on which it "
made, caused the minds of not
few, to revert to the appeals
Rienzi and Demosthenes. Inde
it was 80. No speech ever
ablaze the hearts of men w
greater zeal and spirit of sacrif
than this final effort of the Southe
President.
But as fine as was his genius,
splendid as were his attainments
is not that that endeared him TO
great masses of the people.
was the trust that the people
posed in his high character, tn
reverence for his virtue, their
probation of his patriotism, their
cognition of his unbounded sym
thy or them and for their longin
and devoted aspirations.
HEARTS of the neople turned To