The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-19

1 where. for the years TO come, Gods own
J sunlight will make Il shine out TO the
eyes OF your children. In this holy
| Mace YOU have written for memorial TO
the generation TO come the name Of JET
ferson Davis This suggests suitable
line OF thought Ready 10 our hand the
| peculiar occasion starts this question TO
| which I address myself. What warrant
have you for your deed In placing this
| memorial here? And what right ana
title has this man 20 have his name
| craven upon the walls Of this holy place?
| What title to be had In remembrance
in Gods home and by his people, Every
other where his title TO remembrance Is
| unouestionable lie deserves the honor
OF the world and OF the human race -
| one Of its nobest servants and represent
tatJves How shall I fifty speak OF the
| remembrance he deserves IN the MINDS
| and hearts Of his own people tne 'nll-
dren Of the South? There are ~ Wshls
| that rise IN me and words that crown uIl-
hidden to my lips. that ] cannot YOU
| would not wish me 70. forego the chdi''
IN utter on this occasion. A devoted
] con of tho South one whose glory IL II
| ,bat bo fought and suffered In its defence
! cd vrbost heart must grow colo as ueath
| can make II ere II cease To warm 10 II
and All belonging 20 1t, you VIII sum 1.,l
me TO rehearse in your ears -,
This man has TO remembrance. Jenel' ol
| 1Sa,te has four titles to the reverence Oh
| ...,,,l,,,,d and TO be had In everlasting re
,nennhrance by his own people OF the
| South. . .tor, 20 vour
minds. -, -o,,.-,brance
&c that he was the called and chosen ana
| faithful representative OF a nation UNIQUE
In history. and of a cause ineNpressiDly
sacred 10 us. That nation was our Souuh-
ern race-that cause was, In general hu-
manity. and IN particular our own. Inc
! ration that he ruled was one utterly
unique among the nations OF the ear'h'
Tho Southern Confederacy was a nation
| Of whom II may be strongly. but truly
| said. that its sun was not seen to rise
nor seen 10 set. In midheavens OF the
| armament of political system II suddenly
hurst upon the eyes Of the nations shin
! ing already in the fullness Of its strength.
| Their wondering gaze marked the fash
| ing splendor of its short course. 1hen IT
vanished behind a cloud which dripped
| tears and was Hinged with blood. And the
| short day lighted by this strange sun. II
was filled from first to last with the most
fierce and tremendous struggle that the
world has ever seen. and for the most
sacred and momentous cause known 10
man on earth-the struggle or a lion
| hearted people for the most priceless hu-
man interest that God has taught man
| 10 seek and claim on earth-the right
| in the fear of God. TO rule themselves-
| constitutional liberty-the service Of no
| master but God.
or that heroic nation this man was the
| chosen chief the elected ruler. With a
| faithful and true heart with a superb
| courage and devotion. with iron nerve. he
| kept his firm hand on the helm OF the
| ship of state as IL plOwed its marvellous
| way through storm and tempest until II
| went down fighting cheerily 10 the bitter
! end beneath the crushing weight Of over
| whelming numbers and resources With
| the memory Of that matchless nation
| with the memory OF that immortal strug-
| gle-with all its splendid deeds and more
/ splendid sacrifices. with al the sufferings
| Of its people and all the blood OF its
| forces. the name Of jefferson Davis must
| stand forever associated. title this TO
| the reverence Of all noble hearts OF hui
| man kind-of his own people most Of all
@ HIS second title 20 our tender mem
| DRY. He was the representative Of his
| people i'm suffering. Elect Of his own
! poople to rule them he was elect Of their
J enemies to suffer for them. He was the
| chosen vicarious victim. They lald on
him the alleged iniquities Of us all and
wreaked on his devoted person the ven
] geance they could not wreak upon a
! whole people.
I n sooner was that din Of battle ceased
/ than the venom Of all ignoble souls was
| turned on him. He was set apart for sui-
fering: malice and uncharitableness spent
! their shafts on him. Hate. invectiVe,
menace. slander-childish, brutal, blind
| hurled their missiles. Then they laid hold
on him. RufIian hands touched the sacred
| person of the Lords Amounted. This
| princely man. of loftiest worth and deeds
| and station they threw into a dungeon,
| and there subjected 10 strange and I'M
usual tortures, such as no felon is made
| 10 suffer Then on this man who had
| done nothing amiss against them they
| forced the crowning ignominy to such as
| he. Upon this weak. sick. heartbroken
| prisoner i'm a dungeon. in a strong fort
| ress guarded by soldiers. they hung felon
| chains-fetters on hands that had held n
sceptre and had done only knightly deeds;
| irons on feet that had trOd only in paths
| Of honor and duty. Unspeakable pain
on a heart that had kind and just and
| gentle thoughts for all; pain so bitter and
| intolerable as for a moment to make that
| strong soul seek for death. Torturng
| ignominy upon stainless life!
| They did these things unto him in their
wrath against his people. They meant
| for him an ignominious death. but feared
| to bring him TO trial even before their
| own high priests. For the chief priests
| and scribes of their own law said I'VE
| find no fault I'm this man. II is not lawful
! for us to put this man TO death So
| they branded all that was done 10 him as
! lawless and hatred without a cause and
| wanton cruelty 10 the Innocent And sec
| how God reversed all this The man who
| put those chains upon him died las a
! fool dieth." by his own hand-a misera-
| BILE suicide. This man. whom he tried to
| disgrace and slay with suffering lived on
| I'm honor and died in peace But full Of
| years and honors. and dying left people
| mourning. The noble of the earth stood
| uncovered before the bier Of the dead
| chieftain. The rulers OF the people bore
| him TO his grave midst weeping multi
| tudes and roaring cannon and tolling
bells. And in the presence of great
| crowds all over the land eloquent tongues
| found speech too poor TO utter all their
| hearts would speak in his praise Yes.
| and the thorn crown of that shame and
| anguish which wicked hands forced down
| on his noble brow crowned him a
| king 10 the hearts Of his people as
| he had never been crowned before.
| II changed to a diadem OF beauty
and a crown Of glory II gltters
with a sacred light to his people. and
| II will shine in their hearts forever more.
| His people love him most Of all because
he suffered this for them.
His third title to our remembrance
| e the stav and support of his example