The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-05-05
God Bless His Memory
Judge Reagan's Tribute to the
Confederate President.

y Judge R0agansS IriDut6 TO tne
nfederate President.
DAlas, Texas, Apri; % The Con
federate monument erected through
the efforts of the Daughters of the
Confederacy. Of Dallas. was unveiled
this morning
Ii is of Texas granite, the shaft
being fifty feet high. On the top of
the column stands a private and at
Che base stand four pedestals on
which are life-size statues of Jeffer-
son Davis, R. E Lee, Stonewall
jackson and Albert Sidney Johnston
Jefferson Davis Hayes pulled the
cord that unveiled The form of his
grandfather Lucy Hayes did the
same for Robert E Lee, while little
granddaughter of Stonewall Jackson
completed the nnveiling by pulling
the cord which removed the veils
from the statues of jackson and
Johnston
After a number Of young ladies
representing the different Southern
States had decorated the monument
With flowers. the Hon. John 81.
Reagan, the last living member of
the Confederate Cabinet, delivered a
ealogy on President Davis. He said
in part
TO me has been assigned the duty
of saying, in brief way, something
of the character and services of the
President of the Confederate States,
the beloved Jefferson Davis My as
scciation with Mr.. Davis during our
great struggle and the very high
opinion formed of his disinterested
and patriotic devotion to the cause
of the Confederacy and of his I'M
varying constancy and courage makes
the duty most agreeable. except that
4 recognize my inability to give such
an account CT his services and por-
traiture of his. character as is due to
his memory.
To say that he was an honest
man, 8 brave soldier, an able states
man, sincere patriot and an earnest
Christian does rot give the fall idea
Of his character. 10 one respect
there was some missapprehen-
sions of his character 1t
was sometimes alleged that he was
self-wilIed. imperions and stubborn.
Those in close contact and associa-
tion with him did not 80 regard him.
II have heretofore expressed the
view, and now repeat it. that practi-
3cally he had two characters, or rath:
er two methods of thought and ac-
ton While in his private relations
he was gentleness aud kindness, in
the discharge of his public service he
seemed TO be guided almost wholly
by q sense of duty. And he seemed
to expect those who conferred with
him about public matters to address
themselves directly to the matter
under considerations. and was not at
all times patient with such persons
as sought to occupy his time in gen
eral conversation or, as, to matters
about which they could give aim no
information.
1t will readily be understood that
one who occupied his position, in
which his whole time was necessarily
given to the discharge of important
public business. could not perrnit that
time to be wasted in commonplace
conversation or in listening 20 men
who could give him no real irsforma-
ton. This doubtless created the idea
with such persons that he was self
willed and impefioue.
.sAnother mistake as to HE charac-
ter made by some persons has been
that he would not listen to advice
about matters of Importance. More
than four years of constant contact
with him as member of his Cabinet
enables me to say that this was q
great mistake. His habit was when
he had TO act to exhaust all available
sources of information on it before
coming to conclusion. always con-
suising freely with the members Of
bis Cabinet and with others who
might be able TO give him informa-
ton After doing this and reaching
his conclusion the matter was settled
with him, unless the preseptstion OF
new facts required further coasidera-
tion He had no time to consider
questions upon the same faces. In
the position be occupied vacillation
would have been about as bad as the
erroneous decision of the public ques-
tions.
81 speak on these points because
think in these respects some injury
has been done to his memory
ST., .oI:<cIe D.oe;1on< nor:e ,-,..,.