Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-03

march was ever half so triumphant. In
the capitals through which it passed his
body lay in state, visited by thousands,
and everywhere along the way the peo-
pie, old and young, thronged and stood
with uncovered heads day and night
along the railroads as the train rolled
by to testify their devotion to the dead.
1t was spontaneous; it was sincere; 1t
was universal.
General Lees Peroration
was a magnificent tribute to Mr.. Davis
as the typical southerner.
LAS a soldier his brilliant and promis-
ing career was cut short. He had no OPP
portunities to develop the great qualities
of Lee the prince of commanders. As a
statesman he did not quite reach, per-
haps, the commanding statue of Cal
houn, to whose work he succeeded AS
an orator he may have lacked the inn
petuous fervor of Yancey, the splendid
defamation of Lamar-he surpassed
them all in his majestic strength, the
chaste beauty of his thought and his
thrilling earnestness. But Davis was
greater than them all in that he combined
plished soldier, great states
man and consummate orator.
He was the typical man of his day and
time. Around him stood that marvellous
group-Lee, the flower of chivalry; jack
son, the genius of war; Toombs, the thun-
Campbell. the Judge; Bledsoe, the orator;
Hunter, the statesman-men fit to meas
ure with the knightliest. Yet from the
vantage ground of history his sublime
head lifts itself above them all.
1T is meet and fitting that the ashes
of the great should rest in Virginia S
soil. Round him sleep the mighty ones
who have gone before-soldiers who won
American liberty, jurists who gave II
perpetual FORM statesmen who nlled It's
flag with stars and made 1t honorable
throughout the world Let Richmond be
added to Mount Vernon, Monticello and
Lexington. The south has committed the
keeping of his ashes to the mother OF
states and statesmen. Let him sleep IN
Virginia, where every river Whispers Oh
Confederate heroism and every hill was
crimsoned with the soldiers blood. Let
him rest in Richmond, his capital the
city which he walled about with une
breasts of the bravest of the brave. His
memory is safe with you. You were
faithful to the living, you will not forget
the dead
I'm calmer years, when the last ember
of sectional feeling has burned out, ana
the last chord of love has gently bound
the hearts of all Americans together, Ia
theirs will bring their little children TO
this spot and tell the story of pure
great man. who suffered for his people
and for the right, as they understood 1t,
and how for this they loved him as they
loved no other. Long as yonder river
shall roll its tide to the sea 1t shall be-
hold no man more kingly.
HE was q perfect knight. May the
story of his life be sweet in days to come,
and at last all men come to understand
jefferson Davis"
The Benediction
closed the exercises, and the great and
weary but still enthusiastic crowd began
to leave Monroe park for places to
ouench their thirst, to appease hunger
and to obtain needed rest.
Tonight the city is resonant with the
sounds of departing camps and their
bands playing the airs of Dixie.
The serenade to Mrs. Jefferson Davis
at the Jefferson hotel by resident ana
visiting Marylanders, accompanied by
the band of the Fifth Maryland regi-
ment, consisting of forty pieces, was one
of the notable events of the night and
was attended by all the celebrities pres
ent at the reunion.
Governor O'Ferrall gave reception at
the executive mansion tonight, at Whicn
visitors from every state in the south
called to pay their respects to Virginla's
distinguished governor. When the re-
ception to Mrs. Davis at the JeHerson
hotel had concluded early tonight the
lady was taken to the Masonic temple,
where she was greeted by large as
semblage of the Sons and Daughters or
the Confederate Veterans.
This with other social reunions, con-
cluded the evening, which has been pro-
ductive of so much good feeling attend
ant upon the sixth annual reunion of the
United Confederate Veterans and the
LAYING of the cornerstone of the monu-
ment to Jefferson Davis.