The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-03
LEADER OF A LOST CAUSE.
TREMENDOUS OUTBURsT OF EN-.
THUsIAsM AMONG THE OLD
CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
GEN. LEE ORATOR OF THE DAY.
Davis Not a Traitor, But a Man Who
Sacrificed all for Prin-
cip1e.


ed in Monroe Park to the memory Of
Jefferson Davis was laid this afternoon
with ceremonies which were impressive
and pathetic. Under bright sun and
sky. through densely packed streets
and with the applause of countless
thousands to cheer them or, the fol-
lowers of the lost cause marched to-
day through the city, which is dearer
to the old Confederate than any other
in the land. Two hundred children
wearing white and red sashes, followed
the police, who cleared the way and
led the procession. Mrs. Jefferson Da-
Wis was in an open carriage ard bowed
and smiled, as the cheers greeted her
on every side. The sponsors and maids
of honor, chosen for their beauty from
all the Southern states, rode in car
riages following that of Mrs. Davis.
The military under command of Brig.
Gen. Phillips, represented the pick of
Southern soldiers. North Carolina was
the first state to exhibit a tattered bat
tie flag and as it f1uttered in the breeze
it was greeted with great cheers. The
veterans made the pathetic picture of
the parade. Nearly all are old and for
the most part weak AID feeble, but
summoning their remaining strength
they marched with pride and pleasure.
A large number of them carried sticks
for support and many were compelled
to use umbrellas in ordar to withstand
the rays of the sun. On the backs OF
the marchers were many bullet torn
Confederate coats, old canteens and
knapsacks. Several darlzies, true to
their old masters. marched with them
in the parade, while two old Confed-
crates, who probably had relieved the
monotony of camp life with music in
war times, carried their fiddles and
bows.
The column moved very slowly owing
to the age and disabilities of many Of
the marchers. It was estimated chat
$4,000 men and children started in the
parade, but a large number were af-
fected by the heat and withdrew before
they had marched many blocks.
s. When the procession reached the park
the military formed a complete square
around the grounds, preventing any but
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
Prayer was offered by Rev. DIR. George
H. Ray. At the close Of the Masonic
exercises, the howitZers out on the Lee
monument grounds fired salute Of ID
guns.
Hon. J. T. Taylor Ellison president Of
the Davis Monument association came
forward and called on Bishop Johnson
c. Cranberry to offer prayer. Gen.
Stephen D. Lee was introduced as the
orator of the occasion and made an
address in which he spoke in part as
follows:
1--WE are here to-day to honor the
memory Of Jefferson Davis; to lay the
cornerstone of a monument to one
who needs no monument in our gener-
alton beyond that in the hearts of his
countrymen. But we think it due to
erect one that posterity may know the
reverence felt for the great leader Of a
cause that failed. 1t is fitting that he
should rest here in Virginia, that great
est of all states, the battle-scarred
producer of warriors and statesmen;
fitting that he should rest here among
her immortals~ But for her generosity
in ceding her vast territory to the
union. Kentucky would have still been
hers, and he would have been born her
son. Many presidents, statesmen,
soldiers, lie in Virginia soil-from
Washington to the present time-none
greater than Davis, but more fortunate.
Fame has 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 with review Of Davis
career and the issues which brought
about secession, and continued: 81
cannot hold him wise who would will
ingly wound the patriotism of any citi-
zen of the republic. To brand such
men as Albert Sidney Johnston, Stone
wall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, or Jeffer-
SON Davis, as traitors is not to stain
the whiteness of their lives, but rather
to spoil the word for any useful pur-
pose; to make of traitor a title which
Hamden. or Washington might have
borne as well, had the fortunes Of war
gone against them"
In closing, the orator said: 'In calm
er years, when the last enber of Sec
tiCnal feeling has burned out, and the
last word of love has gently bound the
hearts Of all Americans together, fathers
will bring their little children to this
spot, and all will tell them the story Of
pure, great man, who suffered for
his people, and for the right as he
understood it, and how for this they
loved him as they loved no other. Long
as yonder noble river shall roll it's tide
to the sea, it shall behold no man more
hngly. 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
Though the dedication Of the corner
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 con-
sentative utterances. No rash speech
es were made and there was no display
Of i'll feeling.