The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-10-11

complish his purpose until he is sue
cessful. Although born and brought
up in New England, he is we'll known
in the South: While working his way
through Dartmouth College, New
Hampshire, he travelled in 1888 all
through the South as special CORE
spondent of Northern papers to de-
scribe conditions from Yankee stand
point, and took course of lectures at
Vanderbilt University to come in
contact with Southern young men.
The late Henry W. Grady, in speak
ing of Barrett's work, said that he had
done more than any other Northerner
to make New England realize the true
social and political conditions of the
South and to remove unjust prejudice
against the South.
Barrett had preferred to give no
publicity to his interest in the restor-
alton of Jefferson Davis's name and
hoped to see this justice done to the
former Secretary of War in a quiet
way, but upon hearing that his inten-
tions in the matter were known and
might otherwise be misconstrued he
made the following statement "My
interests in the Cabin John Bridge
tablet is first historical and secondly
sentimental. The bridge was planned
constructed and nearly completed be-
fore the Civil War broke out. Jeffer-
son Davis, whose administration as
Secretary of War was responsible for
the aqueduct, held this important
place eight years before the rebellion
began. The bridge had no connec-
tion whatever with the war, and at
the time Jefferson Davis was as much
the Secretary of War for the North as
for the South, without reference to
later differences.
The Washington Aqueduct, in
other words, was started historically
under the direction of Jefferson Davis,
and not of blank space As the tablet
now indicates. Therefore for histori-
cal reasons alone his name should be
restored. The credit should go to the
man to whom it irrevocably belongs,
and will forever belong, no matter what
position he held later or what feeling
there may have existed against him in
in war times. No act of Congress,
order of Government officials, much
less no hand of an excited partisan,
could ever change the simple fact that
Jefferson Davis was than Secretary of
War and that once his name was on
the tablet.
"Viewing the defaced monument I'm
sentimental light, what fitting re-
cognition it would be on the part of
the North of the reunited spirit that
binds the South and the North in one
common country ifa Northern Gov
ernment officer, Northern Senator
or Northern Congressman took the
initiative in restoring the original
lettering! am glad to say that all
Northern men of prominence or in
fuence whose attention I bave called
to this matter have freely expressed
the opinion that the tablet should be
now restored, either by informal order
Of those in charge or by official act if
necessary. While some would scruple
to take the step if it were a monument
directly associated with the issues of
the war, they all agree that neither
historically nor sentimentally is there
any valid reason for not restoring a
record efaced by private act, and not
by any recorded official or authorized
order.
"In these days when we every where
in the North welcome and cheer
General Joe Wheeler, General Fitz-
hugh Lee, General John B. Gordon {;
when we invite Mrs. Jefferson Davis
not only to grand celebrations Of
General Grants birthday and to fes-
tivities of the Legion of Honor, but to
quiet summer visit up in the heart
of Vermont; when we remember the
reception accorded Henry w. Grady
as the apostle of the New South by
Boston and New York, we certainly
can join in perpetuating historical
truth that cannot be questioned, in
righting a wrong that had its only
inspiration in the mind of an excited
partisan and in restoring after 40 years
tablet mutilated without official
authority"
Mr.. Barrett believes that the matter
should receive early consideration by
Dy congress In Order tnat Tue reSIor-
alton may be accomplished during the
lifetime of Mrs. Jefferson Davis. She
is far from we'll at the present time.
Mr.. Barrett has been a guest at the
Davis home on several occasions, and
feels sure that it would be great joy
to Mrs. Davis to have the name of her
husband restored to its rightful posi-
tion on the great stone bridge.-Ptch-
mond Enquirer.
When q knife blade loses its temper
it becomes dull, but when woman
loses hers she becomes cutting.
A good mirror tells the truth no
matter on whom it reflects.
Men hev got so they're more afraid