The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-03

rested in his inaugural the case
of the new nation at the bar of
the public opinion of the world, not
upon revolutionary but upon legal
right.
Jefferson Davis stood the test of
true greatness, he was the greatest to
those who knew him best. One of the
marked traits of Mr. Davis private life
was his exquisite courtesy. He was
one of the most approachable men,
as polite and affable to the humblest
as to the most exalted. In his old
age in Raleigh, n. c., he excused him
self to all callers, in order to receive
the visit of his former slave. 1t is
characteristic of the man, that he clos
ed his farewell address to the Senate
by apologizing for any pain which in
the heat of discussion he might
have inflicted. His last words
oI, earth were, Please excuse me-. Such
feenuleness usually makes a man OF
great courage. On a memorable occa-
sion he uttered the characteristic
words Never be naughty to the hum
BILE. nor humble to the naughty
Mr. Davis was opposed to disunion,
and did his utmost to prevent the step.
At the conference called by Governor
Pettus, of Mississippi, of the represen-
tatives of Congress from the State in
1860, Mr.. Davis declared himself oppos-
ed to secession, as long as the hope of
a peaceful remedy remained.
"The record of God-born valor and
manhood where apeOple fought so long
against such odds and resources, dis
played such fortitude, and endured
such sacrifices, will be a bright page in
American history; and will show what
the Anglo-SaXon race can and will do,
under a Republican form of govern
ment, in defense of a constitutional
principle.
"As President, Mr.. Davis may have
made mistakes He was a constitu-
Itional ruler not a revolutionary chief.
He could not work miracles. There is
some thing indescribably pathetic in
the sight, when a brave and gallant
people stake everything upon the cast
of battle, fight their armies to eXhaus-
ton and almost ITO annihilation, in de-
Tending their homes and firesides, and
at last are overpowered and overwhelm-
ed, and behold everything that they
love go down.
Il behold before me here to-day the
white heads of Confederate veterans,
of the men who thirty-One years ago
lost all save honor. they are falling
now swifter than their comrades fell
on the field of battle, they have lived
thank God, to restore their country to
freedom and prosperity again-dear
land, for which they fought and sacri-
feed and suffered and lost. They are
about TO die, salute you.
SIN calmer years. when the last en-
Der of sectional feeling has burned out.
and the last cord of love has gently
bound the hearts of all Americans to-
gether, fathers viii bring their little
children to this spot and tell them the
story of pure, great man, who suffer-
ed for his people and for the right as
they understood it, and how for this
they loved him as they loved no other
Long as yonder noble river shall roll
its tide to the sea, it shall behold no
man more kingly. He was a very per-
feet gentle knight. May the story of
his life be sweet in the days TO come.
and. last, all men come to understand
Jefferson Davis"
Though the dedication of the cor
ner stone closed the reunion there
were some minor exercises tonight,
including a lecture by Gen. Rosser.
This has been the greatest reunion
ever held and was marked by good
order, and conservative utterances. No |
rash speeches were made and there
was no display of bad blood.