The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-06-06
JEFF DAVIS SHAFT
Is Unveiled at Richmond By
Veterans and Daughters.
AN IMPOSING CEREMONY
Great Demonstration Ensues as Can
vas is Drawn and fearful Eyes
Greet Magnificent Figure OF
SoItf's Cherished Idol.

Greet Magnificent Figure OF
South's Cherished Idol.
Al everlasting memorial OF Jeffer-
son Davis, the patriot and statesman,
who was sle chosen leader Of THE
Lost Cause and the first and only
president of the Confederate States of
America, was unveiled in Richmond,
Va. Monday, as the crowning feature
of the annual reunion Of the Confeder-
ate veterans.
Under perfect sky, with bands
playing crashing music in which
Dixie" and maryland" were promi-
nent, the remnants of the armies OF
the gray passed through the streets
of the Virginia capital, and out on
splendid Monument avenue, where the
shaft stands. Every member Of the
body of old men who were able to walk
at all took part. The day and the
event will live forever in the mem
Dry OF those present.
Second only to the tribute given
to the memory of Dixie Lands great
chifetain were those offered on every
hand to the women of the south, whose
Gift the monument is. The ceremony
was one of the south. No other Sec
tion had any part in it. The veterans
who fought for the Lost Cause were
gathered together to pay their trle-
ute to the man whose memory is re-
yered above all others. The speeches
counseled the teaching of loyalty to
the cause for which the southern
states struggled, but there was no;h-
ing in the teachings but what ELECTED
the sympathy and approval OF Vlslt,
ors from other sections.
That the great multitude had gash'
i cred for one purpose alone was evil
denced by the attitude of the people
toward William Jennings Bryan, who
! was the guest of the reunion.
He was given a remarkable ovation
as he drove through the streets IN
the line of march, and cheered to the
echo as he mounted the stand just be-
fore the program was begun.
At the conclusion Of the unveillns
ceremony there were a number OF
calls for him to address the people
but these were Immediately drowned
i in a chorus of mo, no, no." many
times repeated. The objections came
from everywhere, and were led oy
the women of the Jefferson Davis
Monument Association. General Ste
phen D. Lee, grand commander, who
presided at the stand, announced II
| ringing tones: There will be no poll
tics here."1
As soon as his name was called
| Mr.. Bryan made a movement as
though to withdraw from the stand
He realized that if he appeared be-
| fore the people a political motive
| would be attributed to him by many
and for that reason he had opposed
going on the stand at all. The promp
! suppression of the calls saved an en-
barrassing situation.
One of the most touching incidents
of the day was the presentation Of
the descendants of Mr. Davis TO the
great throng.
This occurred at the conclusion OF
the program. Mrs. ]. Davis Hayes OF
Colorado Springs, Colo, was led for
ward first and introduced as the daugn
ter of President Davis and then fol
lowed Mrs. Alice Hayes and Jefferson
HAYES Davis, whose name was trans
posed by an act of the legislature tc
perpetuate the name of the Confeder
ate chieftain; William Davis Hayes
and Mrs. Webb, all children of Mr.. anc
Mrs. Hayes.
! Last of all, Davis Hayes Webb, tn
great-grandson of Mr. Davis, was In
troduced. The great crowd cheeree
each one enthusiastically and KEEP
Mrs. Hayes to the front of the stant
man. minutes bowling acknowledg
ments to their plaudits.
The event was fitting close tt
what is universally recognized a.
probably the last great gathering o
the Confederate veterans