Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1907-06-06
EVERLASTING MEMORIAL
OF JEFFERSON DAVIS
Fitting Close to What Was Probably the
Last Great Gathering Of Confederate
Veterans.

Veterans.
Richmond, Va, June 3.-An everlast-
ing memorial of Jefferson Davis, the
patriot and statesman who was the cho-
sen leader of ''the lost cause and the
first and only president of the Confed-
crate States of America was unveiled
here today as the crowning feature of
the annual reunion of the Confederate
veterans The ceremony was made the
occasion for grand military pageant in
which every veteran in gray who was
physically able, and many a one who
was not, participated with an energy
and enthusiasm which defied the life
sapping years that have gone since he
bore arms for the south. The drawing
aside of the veil which draped the figure
representing the veterans beloved lead
er and the first gun of the presidential
salute which Immediately followed was
the signal for an outburst of cheering
which was swollen to thunderous ap-
plause by the sons and daughters of the
veterans. Tears dimmed the eyes and
coursed down the cheeks of the "boys
in gray" and their emotion-choked vol
ces would have been but feeble effort
had it not been for the assistance given
by younger and homage paying gener-
alton.
The event today was a fitting close to
what is universally recognized as prob
ably the last great" gathering of the
Confederate veterans. 1t was the fea-
ture that drew many thousands from all
sections of the south who otherwise
would not have come. The sense of 10y
atty to their leader of nearly half CEN
tury ago which virtue is so broad that it
takes nothing from their unstinted al
legiance to the flag of the united people
was even greater magnet than the old
camp fire. The unveiling of the monu-
ment was the fruition of eighteen years
of patient and loving effort and every
man who wore the southern uniform had
in his heart desire to be present. A
devotion which knows no equal in Amer
lean history in responsible for its build
ing. 1t was a work the south had to do
without help. There was no united ma
ton to bear the expense. Love and sac
rifice were the masons who piled the
stones and spread the mortar that ce-
mented them into an enduring memorial.
Beautiful sentiment was heard on
every side, and the thanks of the entire
south were offered by the orators of the
occasion to the United Daughters of the
Confederacy whose work made this
monument of the association such a sue
cess. Of these expressions quotation
from the writings of Jefferson Davis
himself was given in the principal
speech, by Gen. Clement A. Evans, of
Atlanta, Ga, and evoked most applause.
The sentiment occurs in the dedication
of ''The Rise and Fall of the Confeder-
acy," by Mr.. Davis, and is addressed to
''The Women Of the Confederacy" as
follows:
To the women of the Confederacy,
whose pious administrations to our
wounded soldiers soothed the last hours
of those who died far from the objects
of their tenderest love, whose domestic
labors contributed much to supply the
wants of our defenders in the field;
whose jealous faith in our cause shone
as a guiding star, undimmed by the
darkest clouds of war; whose fortitude
sustained them under all privations to
which they were subjected, whose annual
tribute expresses their enduring grief,
love and reverence for our sacred dead,
and whose patriotism will teach their
children to emulate the deeds of our
Revolutionary sires.''
All of the work of the reunion has
been done, and the fifth and last day
was devoted wholly to the payment of
tributes to the memory of Jefferson
Davis. The streets were brilliantly dec
GRATED. There was scarcely house or
business building in the city that was
not profusely draped with the Confed-
crate colors and bunting.
The grand parade to the unveiling
started at l1:S0 o'clock. The military
feature was similar to the parade on the
first day of the reunion, when the statue
of Major-GeneralJ ]. E. B. Stuart was
unveiled, but there were far more vet
Grams in gray in line. They appeared to
have been saving their strength for this
occasion, and although the walking was
bad, none who could walk at all shirked
the duty. Veterans of every section of
the south marched in honor of the sold
Ter, statesman and president of the
southland. Arrangements had been made
to conserve the strength of the old men,
and the Confederate veterans were
formed in open rank within one mile of
the statue and the modern military or
ganizations marched through in review,
and were followed by the veterans, the
carriage contingent and the auxiliary
orders. This entailed no long march for
the veterans, and avoided all counter
marching in the parade formation.