The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-06-04

his State and its sovereignty, and, as
| Robert f, Lee, who answered the call
of Virginia, so did Jefferson Davis
yield his soulful allegiance to Missis-
sippi, and as if decreed by the hand of
Fate, he became the head of the Con-
| federacy against his wishes.
A STATESMAN IS RARELY A
HERO.
. 1t will not be disputed that from the
, earliest records of the world that the
military genius with all the trappings of
| war; has commanded admiration to the
exclusion of the civilian, and the states
man when measured by the popuace is
| rarely a hero, but the time will come
, when Mr. Davis, majestic in character,
. will not suffer by comparison, and when
Ibis name and fame is written by the inn
partial historian, he will be listed high
with the patriots and the illustrious men
of the centuries.
Had Mr., Davis been governed by his
Iinclinations he would have chosen the
military field, but those who knew him
best and appreciated his sterling integ-
Irity, his ability, his fearlessness and his
patriotism dictated otherwise. He yield
ed to the demand of duty and self
sacrifice.
Who, placed under the most trying of
Iexigencies who, limited as he was in
resources, with the whole world against
him as a recruiting station, could have
done as we'll! And yet, had there been
less blundering on the part of the Con-
federate Congress, on financial matters
during the first year of the conflict, per-
thaps the Confederate States today
would be numbered in the family of ma
tons. However, at this date, it is use
less to repine Let our best efforts be
directed to the future. Indeed, there
seems to be some compensation in all
things Having evolved from the dis
lgraceful era of Republican spoliation
and Reconstruction, the South is grad
ually becoming all-powerful through
the pursuits of peace, and it is destined
Ito be the greatest and wealthiest portion
tof our country. 1t is today the only
Thoroughly American section of the
country, where the Constitution is re-
vered as it should be. 1t is the seat of
patriotism and love of country un-
bounded
i My friends forty-two years have
lelapsed since the end fthis historical
! struggle of indomitable men in the
! field, and of heroic women in the
homes, but the splendor of the unequal
contest which has challenged the ad
miration of the world can never be
dimmed, since it has been glorifed even
in the gloom of defeat.
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
J, LIVING.
On the living is devolved duty
from which there should be no shrink
. ling or evasion. Regardless of CONNER
: cial pursuits we must insist that the
Ipalpable inaccuracies and the monstrous
, misrepresentation of facts shall be cor
rected
d OF all the libels on the intelligence of
, a people; of all the mendaciouI Truths
: which have been given publicity even in
| some histories so-called, which are sup
, piled to children in schools, the most
/ vicious have been directed to the dis
: credit of Mr.. Davis.
AS my time is limited to twenty and
not more than thirty minutes, | must be
brief in my conclusions and, therefore,
, | shall consider only three of these fall
sihcations.
INCONSISTENT WITH THE RE
CORD OF TRUTH.
5 The first is that Mr. Davis had in
i. tend to flee to England in vessel lying
] off the Florida coast, but he was frus-
ltrated in this design by being captured,
4 masquerading in female attire, before he
could reach the sea.
VI In refutation of this mendacity it is
t only necessary to say that resting in the
a supreme confidence of success and in
n the ability OF General Lee, that on Sun
: day, April 2, Mr.. Davis was in ST. Paul
S church when he received from Genera
: Lee telegram advising the evacuation
d of Richmond within twelve hours. AZ
: Grant had broken his line in three
E Iplaces, and having been reinforced by
t fresh troops, it was impossible for him
n Lee, to hold Petersburg Mr.. Davis
: left church with composure and direct
led calmly the evacuation of Richmond
+ Before leaving he had expressed I'm
d bounded confidence in the ultimate sue
: cess Of the Cause which he reiterated ir
r a proclamation at Danvilie and at Other
points along the line of his retreat Mr.
c Davis had anticipated the possibility o
: reaching the Trans Mississippi Depart
/ Iment. and with General Magruder, who
y was in Texas and General F. Kirb,
Smith whose headntarters were thef