The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-30
MRS. JEFFERSON DAVIS
OPPOSES THE ARCH PLAN AS
 THE MONUMENT.
A Signed Letter Gives Her Reasons, Deeming That the Design is More Appropriate to Triumph
 Than to Memory.
New Orleans Picayune.


 When Jefferson Davis breathed his last in this city of New Orleans. and the ncws went thrilling through the South that the illus trious leader of the Confederacy was no more every heart was that some suitable form of monument should be erected to his glorious should be erected in that city n which his remains were to be permanently laid to rest United Confederate Veterans and the decision of Mrs. Davis. as the widow of the honored dead, was respectfully awaited as to what city should have the privilege of forever holding his remains within its bosom
 After two years Mrs. Davis finally decided that Richmond as the capital of the Confed- crate states ns was sne m mGs. M ytl remains and erection of the monument.
 large of money was raised by the United Confederate Veterans. and Monroe Park Richmond. was selected as the site of the memorial. The cornerstone of the monu- ment was laid in the park, with masnihcGnt ceremonies. upon the acceptance Of de- tinued Finally the United Confederate Vet the collection of funds absted after time, requested the United Daughters of the Con federacy to assume the work Of erecting the whatever except this. that the monument should be reared in Richmond
 The Daughters of the Confederacy sent out circulars calling upon all organizations of Southern women to come forward and assist in the york of raising funds for the erection
  Southern memorial associations were just or ganizing their confederation, and this body federacy that it would assist, but they re, ouested joint representation on the central committee appointed to attend to erection or the monument. This request was at once ac- ceded to and the Confederation became very zealous in the collection of funds, uittee of inc Daughters of the Confederacy in Montgomery last November it was hnsIly decided to reject the site of Monroe Park ana ,kx x.att tta HvNA nnt Broad and Twelfth Streets. Richmond, as a monument to Mir Davis. ~
 few weeks ago MT, Polk Miller m an following statement:
 ''The Jefferson Davis arch Is not the choice of the Southern people,
 Desirous of obtaining an expression of views on the subject. and believing that as the widow of the illustrious Jefferson Davls' any, thing that Mrs Davis would have to say would comand great attention, and necessarily pear weight in the matter. The Picsyune addressed her letter. quoting the statement ot MT Miller. and asking her views on the subject of the proposed memorial arch.
 Mrs. Davis has kindly favored The Pica- yune with her views in the following letter
 "The St Charles Hotel.
 New Orleans March a. 902
 Dear sir-Yours of March 2l has been re, Mir Polk Miller. The Jefferson Davis arch is not the choice of the Southern people ahI YOU invited an expression of my opinion. confess to heinz very averse to the arch and to the erection of any monument to MT DAVIS the site indicated.
 .0ne who witnessed MT Daviss brave ef- forts to establish our rights upon the best and surest foundation, his pious ana many acceptance of Gods decree and his heroic endurance of bonds and Imprisonment under every galIing condition that a pitiless jsiler could inhict woub be the last to minimize his sufTerings and sacrifices: but his merits only render his family the more tremuIousy alive to the necessity for a becoming form m
 An arch has heretofore been built to per petuate the deeds of the many. and has gen araIly expressed the fact of some signal vic tory achieved by them; but ulumphal arct to the memory of a man whose cause failed not for the lack of self-immolation or strenu ous effort but because our troops were cut numbered and he could not achieve the i'm possible, is an inappropriate expression of re cite ridicule in many quarters
 Our grateful country might well erect ar arch to the splendid valor of the Confeder7t' soldiers for that is acknowledged by the civil zed world without dissenting voice, or bull one 10 the heroism of Southern women, tu such an arch can only defy criticism when i commentaries the successful efforts of th' many and announces their triumphs. For in stance, the naval arch which Is now Tn tn' process of construction in New York VIII h' reared to the proweR of our navy. not 10 snl single man The Washington arch takes it' l name from the square on which it stands and commemorates General washingtons sue l cess, of course; but in a greater degree SUI the success of our revolution the Are dt | Triumphe in Paris expresses the pride or | ttibilant and triumphant nation. a.,.,.,,i ''The position suggested for the memofla | arch is still more pDlecbpndpit t' 'l'' ter and myself We cannot associate the m l tersection of two noisy streets llheI VII VII | shops and freducnted ny nolsy cFI"u; 5i ",II aI | a monument to the memory of our dead ana | the choice of such a site we consider most III | 'Round as I am to Richmond by thousand | tender ties and warm sympsthies: even Tor the purpose of making this eeaut,iul city nr' l r,ent to President Davis In the place proposed l "AppreciatnE the noble efforts Of the wo' men who have labored 70 ouila tne inohu,el' nun. 1 I dissent from their choice and it's form | should not have publicly formulated my oh | +ections had you not courteously acknovledgec | nv vital interest in the matter, and asked