The National tribune., 1896-07-09
TIE REBEL
GHOST DANCE.
The Grand Secession POwwOW al
Richmond - Laying the Corner
Stone of the Monument TO JEFF Da-
vis-Gen. Gordon Kisses Mrs. Da-
Wis Corporal Tanner Makes a
Speech,

Confederate Veterans came of on schedule
time at Richmond, June % and 30 and July J.,
and for three days the city was blaze oil rebel
bunting and State flags; the streets were filled
with people from all parts of the South; long
professions of survivors Of rebel organizations
bearing their old battlenugs and the Hurled
banner" and headed by bands playing " Mary
tand. Ny Maryland" Dixie" The Bonnie
Blue Flag, and other rebel airs marched and
we're applauded to the echo; and there was
9amboyant. torid rebel rhetoric gushing every
where The Richmond papers published big
editions filed with representations Of the
"FIag That Went Down." allegerical repre-
sensations Of the South, portraits OF living and
dead rebels, etc, etc. One report Of the pro-
seedlings on July says:
The most interesting features Of to. days ses-
sion OF the United Confederate Convention were
the oyatous given Mrs. jefferson Davis ana
legless Federal veteran Corpi Tanner. The
widow OF the President OF the Confederacy, ac-
companicd by her daughter Mrs. Hays, and the
12-year old son OF the latter, were introduced
10 the body about 2 O'Clock this afternoon.
The immense Auditorium Building was
filed with veterans and ladies. Mrs. Davis's
presentation came Immediately alter an I'M
passOned speech from Corp1 Tanner TINS
old Union soldier was given such rousing
welcome by the veterans must have made
him feel proud.
As soon as Mrs Davis reached the platform
the crowd began 10 cheer. Men and women
stood upon seats, and gave every indication OF
hearty and joyous welcome. Supported upon
the arm OF Gen Gordon, the President Of the
Convention, Mrs. Davis stood facing the great
thronE, into whose eager faces she looked.
Gen. Gordon said
1 4l,xax i1pxu nf
the President Of The Confederacy, the woman
who was the companion OF his life, who was
with him IN exile ana in his incarceration.
Upon her brow imprint a reyeIential kiss Tor
every comra3e here"
GEN. GORDON KISSES MRS. DAVIS.
Suitng the action to the word, the President
stopped and pressed his lips upon the forehead
OF Mrs Davis. Mrs. lays daughter of the
latter lady, who bears strong resemblance OF
her late father, was then presented to the Con-
vention by Gen. Gordon. This lady WAS re-
ceived with the widest demonstrations Of
pleasure. Little JEFF Davis hays, who stood
near by, was picked up by the head of the
veteran organization and held up in his arms
50 that all Of the immense audience might see
him
Some enthusiastic veteran sprang to his feet
and proposed that the grandson Of the Presi-
dent OF the Coniederacy should be made an
honorary member of the United Confederate
Veterans. This suggestion was adopted with
wild rush. Gen. Cabell, of Texas said the
little fellow was already member OF his Camp,
and that Mrs. Hays was all Aid on his staff,
with the rank Of Colonel. Not to be outdone,
Gen. Gordon announced that JEFF Davis Hays
would be made member of his staG. At this
point the Convention took recess, and Mrs.
Davis and her daughter shook hands with
many OF the veterans in the hall.
C0BP'L TANNERS SPEECH.
Corp Tanner, who preceded Mrs. Davis in
his presentation TO the Convention, made an
imrsssioned address, which ELECTED hearty ap-
pause. In introducing this Federal veteran
Gen. Gordon said 10 the Convention:
You shot lie legs of with bullets and now
] guarantee you have put ball through his
heart with this demonstration"
In the course Of Tanners speech that which
called forth the loudest applause was the
declaration that II the old soldiers of each side
had taken matters IN hand Immediately after
AppomattoX the country would have escaped
tbe horrors Of reconstruction DAYS
IN closing his remarks the ex-COmmissioner
OF Pensions Tired parting shot at President
Cleveland. Turning to Gen. Gordon, the leg
less old warrior sand could almost wish
that John T. Gordon was in the White House
il he were know be would soon kick ont the
last mDlaHCe OF moHarchical Government"
The Corporal expressed hope to see the Cubans
gam their Independence. Tanner was given
Dig ovation, az generous as that accorded any
body else, with The exception Of Mrs. Davis.
LAYING THE CORNER STONE.
The report Of the proceedings says: Two
hundred children, boys and girls, wearing white
and red ssshes, followed the police, who cleared
the way and led the procession. The chief
marshal, Gen. Gordon. ID civilian dress looked
sr0yal commander as did GOV O'FerraIl who
rode with barred head Mrs Jefferson Davis
was ID an open carriage, and bowed and smiled
IS the cheers greeted her on every side. The
sponsors aud maids OF honor chosen for their
beauty from all the Southern States. rode in
carriages following that OF Mrs. Davis The
military, under command OF Brig Gen. Phil
lips, represented the pick Of Southern soldiers
1t was estimated that $4,000 men and chill.
oren started ia the parade, but large number
wete affected by the heat, and withdrew before
they had marched many blocks.
The hasons, escorted by the Knights Temp
lar, marched TO the park. where the corner
stone WAS laid with Masonic ceremonies
Prayer was offered by Rev. DIR. Geo. II. Raw
At the close Of the Masonic exercises Mr. w
j. Thompson touched an electric button which
was the signal for the howitzers out on the
Lee monument grounds TO fire salute Of Is
guns
J. Taylor Ellyson President Of the Davis
Monument Association. came forward and
called on Bishop johnson c. Cranberry to offer
prayer Gen. Stephen ID. Lee was introduced
az the orator ef the occasion, and made an
Sodress, IN which be spoke IN part as follows:
srEPHEN d. LEES ADDRESS.
ave are here to-day to honor the memory Of
Jefferson Davis; to lay the corner stone Of a
monument 10 one who needs no monument in
our generation beyond that in the hearts of his
couRtrymen. But we think il due 20 erect one
that posteritv may know the reverence felt for
the great leader Of cause that failed. IL ia
fitting that he should rest in here Yirginia-that
greatest OF all States, the battle-scarred pro-
ducer OF warriors and statesmen: fitting that
be should rest here among her immortals But
for her generosity iB ceding her vast territory
60 the Union. Kentucky would have still been
hers. and he would have been born her son
Many Presidents, statesmen, soldiers lie in
Virginia soi-from Washington 10 the presepr
time-noue greater than Davis, but more
fortunate.
Fame has no trumpet for failure The
world hears not the voice Of the vanoushed
Yet history might teach us strange things OF
men who fail and causes that are lost Genius
did not keep Hannibal or Napoleon from de-
feat; heroism went with Joan OF Arc 10 the
stake ard Emmett TO the ecaffold The elo-
quence OF DemOsthenes did not save Greece or
Cato's virtue. Rome The courage Of Kosciusko
awaited naught for Poland, and Hungary went
down Tor all the patriotism Of kossuth Some
times defeat gives tragic pathos which lifts
the commonplR into the immortal and ten
derly preserves the memory OF the vanquished
long after the victor has been forgotten
He followed with a review OF Dayis's career
and the issues which brought about secession.
and continued: