The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-09

years. From 1:45 to $40 O'Clock the
veterans, sons of veterans and military
passed the city hall. The column moved
very slowly, owing to he age and dis
abilities of many of the marchers. From
the military down to the dozen negro
cooks, who brought up the rear, the pa
rade was an imposing and inspiring spec
tacle. 1t was estimated that $1,000 men
and children started in the parade, but Il
large number were affected by the heat
and withdrew before they had marched
many blocks. AS early as 10 o'clock the
organizations began to gather on Broad
and adjacent streets. The column
moved promptly at 1:30. AS the old
commanders and generals of the war
rode up they were loudly cheered. En-
thusiasm on Broad street was most lib
eral and il continued until the column
had passed out of sight.
Gen. Gordon and staff headed the pa
rade. Then came the children's brigade,
go i'll number, each carrying a flag.
Gen. Wade Hampton and staff were
kept busy constantly raising their hats
in Acknowledgement of applause. Be
hind the leaders came the Virginia reg
iments, the Georgia and South Carolina
companies and the other military organi-
cations. Following the militia were the
mounted veteran cavalry, and then the
carriages. In these were veterans,
Daughters of the Confederacy and the
members of the city council.
Next came Gen. Thomas A. Brandon
and staff, at the head of several thou
sand veterans. Col. James A. Stubs
headed the second division, which was
almost fully represented. The third d.
vision was in command of Third Lieut..
Grand Com. James Garnett. and all the
a. m in hn fpt hrin la
was commanded by Brig. Gen. T. S. Gar
nett and paraded according to program.
A North and South Carolina camp
brought up the rear of the Virginia di-
visions. Georgia had the largest num-
Der of veterans in line, about 1900: North
Carolina had several camps in line. The
members of one camp carried wreaths
of cedar enclosing the inscription:
"First at Bethel; last at AppomattoX."
The South Carolina contingent was
greatly reduced by the heat, and only Il
few hundred remained in the parade to
the end. These veterans carried palmet-
to branches which attracted much at
tention.
From Florida came 1900 veterans, who
marched throughout the line Only Il
few Texans were present, while Mis-
sissippi was represented by about 300.
The Louisiana veterans pluckily kept in
the parade. The celebrated Washing
ton artillery was represented by dozen
men. Kentucky had several hundred
men in line. The Alabama veterans
were thinned out by the heat, but made
good showing. Almost 200 Missourians
marched over the entire course. Okla
homa was represented by camp, as
was the Indian Territory. When the
procession reached the park the military
formed n complete square around the
guards, preventing any hut those in the
parade from entering the enclosure. The
grand lodge of Masons, escorted by the
knights Templar, marched to the park,
where the corner stone was laid with
Masonic ceremonies.
Prayer was offered by Rev. George
H. Ray. AT the close of the Masonic
exercises the howziters out on the Lee
monument grounds fired n salute of thir-
teen guns.
Hon. J. Taylor Ellison, president of
the Davis Monument association, came
forward and called on Bishop johnson
G. CRANKY to offer prayer.
Gen. Stephen ID. Lee was introduced
as the orator of the occasion and made
an address. in which he spoke in part
as follows:
ave are here today to honor the mem
DRY of Jefferson Davis; to lay the corner
stone of monument to he who needs
no monument in our generation beyond
that in the hearts of his cOuntrymen.
But we think it'd ne to erect one that pos
terity may know the reverence felt for
the great leader of the cause that failed.
1t is fitting that he should rest here in
Nirginia-that greatest of all states; the
battle-scarrcd producers of warriors and
statesmen; fitting that he should rest
hon hn,, ,tnl., VDtIt fnp hnt,
generosity in ceding her vast territory
to the Union, Kentucky would still have
been hers and he would have been born
her son. Many soldiers and statesmen
lie in Virginia soil. from Washington to
the present time, none greater than
Davis, but more fortunate.
Fame had no trumpet for failure.
The world hears not the voice of the
vanquished; yet history might teach us
strange things of men who failed and
causes that are lost"
He followed the history of Davis ca
reer and the causes of secession and con-
tinued:
Il can not hold him wise who would
willingly wound the patriotism of any
citizen of the republic. To brand such
men as Albert Sidney Johnson, Stone
wall Jackson, Robert T.. Lee or Jefferson
laws uS tldllOlS 10 hDI W SlulH lllt
wilderness of their lives, but rather to
spoil the word for any useful purpose;
to make traitor a title which Hamp-
den or Washington might have borne as
well had the fortunes of war gone
against them.
Jefferson Davis. he added stood the
test of true greatness: he was the great
est to those who knew him best. He
was opposed to disunion and did his ut
most to prevent the step. At the con-
ference called by Governor Pettus of
Mississippi of the representatives of con-
gress from the state in 1860. Mr.. Davis
declared himself opposed to secession as
long as the hope of a peaceful remedy
remained.
AS president. Mr.. Davis may have
made mistakes He was a constitution
al ruler. not a revolutionary chief He
could not work miracles.
In closing he said:
"In calmer years. when the last en-
Der of sectional feeling has burned ont
and the last word of love has gently
bound the hearts of all Americans to-
gether. fathers will bring their little
children to this spot and tell them the
story of a pure, great man, who suffered
for his people and for the right as they
understood and how for this they loved
him as they loved no other. Long as
yonder noble river shall roll its tide to
the sea il shall behold no man more