Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-06-04
Pilot or CHRISTI

!, mo, sirs, history clearly proves
/ that success is not always the meas.
IRE of heroiam, or glory or of right
[ eousness. The magnificent monu.
ments In Scotland TO William Wal
lace and in Switzerland TO William
| Tell eloquently proclaim that failure
when encircled with justice and valor
brings a glory that Is eternal Sirs.
when the passions and prejudices OF
| the late Civil War shall have sub
sided; when the glamor OF imme.
diate success shall have been dissi-
pated, ana an impartial history re.
cords her final judgment, out of this
terrific conflict shall emerge figure
lof heroic proportions, ca.u., serene,
brave in defeat, firm IN resolution,
lofty in purpose, and from whose man
ecled hands each year will come an
increasing glory. then to be imprinted
forever. with beauty and force, upon
the scrolls of time will appear JJef-
ferson Davis, the faithful and fear
less President of the Southern Con
federacy. What a checkered career
does his life present. How ut times
snarkling with sunshine. and how at
others darkened with shadows. Ere
he attained his majority he was u
valiant and brave soldier serving the
stars and Stripes. At the battle OF
Buena Vista he was the bravest of
the brave. and to him belongs the
glory OF that great victory. AS n
representative in the United States
Congress he made vast contributions
to the national progress and greatness.
AS Secretary OF WAR of the United
States he organized that department
into n state of strength and efficiency
which largely brought to the Federal
Government success in the Civil War.
Elected president of COnfederacy
without soldier, without navy and
without treasury, Ly force, energy
and power, he called into existence
armies which conducted for four years
the greatest war of all ages and of
all countries, ana with such success
MS to surround the Confederacy with
n renown that is imperlshable. Few
men ever possessed such vast powers.
Few ever bore greater burdens or re-
sponsibilities.. In all of his public
career, be 1t saiA to his glory and
greatness, no stain ever followed his
footsteps; no selfishness ever soileu
his public service.
y
derlul the achievements of the Con.
federate Government and soldiers anu
adds additional lustre to their fame
The records show that the Federal
Government Unlisted and had subject.
ed to its control four times as many
troops as the Confederates. These
records disclose that the Conrederacy
killed. wounded, captured and routed
more Federal troops than 1t possessed.
This is amazing and cannot be sur
passed by the military achievements
of any people. History cannot furn-
ish another instance than that of the
Southern people, where armies almost
destitute OF war equipments won great
victories from armies far larger, sup
pied with the latest and most eff
ficient arms. With indomitablc ana
amazing genius the Confederate sol.
diers rested from the enemy the very
means and the very equipments for
waging war. Sirs, | firmly believe
that ii the South had had access 10
the seas and could have disposed of
her great cotton and tobacco crops
and received in exchange ars. ammu-
nitions and the various stores of war,
she would have triumphed and won
her independence In modern civiliza-
ton with all its complexities of com.
merce. that nation must prevail finally
that is supreme on the seas. nation
with Its ports blockaded practically
wages war against the world. Heroic
courage, brilliant victories and great
military genius, may for time delay,
but the catastrophe must and will in
evitably come. The shadows of South.
ern doom rose slowly but surely from
the pitiless sea. Sirs. the brave and
noble deeds Of the Confederate sol.
diers, extending from the drummer
boy to the great commander, the God
like Lee, constitute for the South her
prondest and most precious heritage.
We will teach our childrens children
to cherish the glory, the unsullied
honor and the dauntess courage of
the Confederate soldier We propose
that in every county and city Of the
South some day shall stand granite
or marble column to bear testimony
to his heroism and glory. The sur
viving heroes Of the Confederanys
shall ever have our most tender, low