The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-21
WHAT MIR. BURTON DID SAY.
Tex of His Speech About jefferson Davi
at Wichita.

AT W1ch1ta.
The speech of Mr.. Burton, which is
causing the old soldiers to oppose him,
was delivered at Wichita Decoration Day,
May 80, 1898. and was printed in the
Wichita Eagle the following day from
the original manuscript furnished by Mr..
Burton. There is much interest and cur
iositv in what Mr.. Burton really said.
According to the files of the Eagle, Mr..
Burton said:
The last rites are being paid to the re-
mains of Jefferson Davis, the president
and the ablest of the civic leaders of the
confederacy. 1t is perhaps too early yet
to judge this man fairly and impartially
and give him his exact place in history.
And the same may he said of his great
opponent, Abraham Lincoln. The one is
enshrined in the hearts of the people of
the north as the other is in the hearts of
the people of the south.
"Prejudice, that black stain on the
soul made by poison, has not
yet been effaced against Lincc.n
in the south or against Davis in the
north. And l the son and the brother of
a veteran, who as child, on the border
of the conflict, witnessed so much suffer
ing by his kindred and friends, have
come slowly to reorganize some of the
better traits of the leader OF the south in
to say, and believe the time has come
for the great world to admit the courage,
the ability and the integrity of Jefferson
Davis
Born and reared in the southland,
he was taught from his cradle, in
social life, by the press, from the stump
and the pulpit, that the dogma of state
sovereignty was right and that slavery
was not only best for both races, but it
was established and maintained at the
express mandate of God.
"ThOngh man of fine education and
great attainments, he read aud thought
and interpreted the constitution after the
fashion of his great teacher, Calhoun,
and holding fast to the Bible and the
Christian faith, he as firmly believed in
the doctrine of secession as Lincoln did
in the idea of the union.
"The beginning of the war found him
at mature manhood and in possession of
the greatest honor that his adopted state
| could confer on one of her citizens. AS
q boy he had fought gallantly in the In
dian wars, and afterwards retired to a
life of contemplation and study. In
obeying his country's call he later fought
| bravely in the far off fields of Mexico,
| and with the blood streaming from his
body, refused to leave the battalions un-
| til the victorious shout told the battle
had been won. Again returning to the
shades of private life, after having re-
] fused great military honors that, by too
! severe Interpretation of the constitution,
he could not accept, was chosen by bis
state to the high position as a legislator
! in the American congress.
'But tho supreme moment came to Da-
| Wis as Il CO nes to US all in various ways
and unuer different circumstances.
| Should he stand for the union. or should
he cast his lot in favor of secessionf
Looking at him as we do today, knowing
his surroundings, his teachings and high
above these, the strength of his convic-
tions of duty, can the issue be doubtful
AS we'll might we have expected the frs
proclamation of the great Lincoln after
his.inauguration to have been an acknowl
edgment of the right of South Carolina tc
secede as to have expected that the great
Davis would favor the union. With al
! the courage that could animate grea
mind under trials as severe as coulC
come to any man, throughout the war ht
did his lest to maintain and support ths