The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-06-06
REUNION OF VETERANS.

REUNlON Of VEL EKANS.
Monument to Jefferson Davis Unveil-
ed at Richmond This Week.
RICHMOND, VA, June 3.-The cap
| ital of Virginia to-day resumed the
glory of the time when it was the
capital of a nation with an ambition
that was worldwide. AS the monu-
ment to Jefferson Davis. the presl-
dent of the Confederate States of
America, was unveiled men who had
fought for that nations lost cause
stood with hair grayer than their
old uniforms to hear the eulogy OF
their dead president and the prin-
ciples he represented.
"Not in hostility to others, not to
injure any section Of the country,
not even for our own pecuniary bene-
fit, but from the high and solemn mo-
tive of protecting the rights we in
herited and which it is our duty to
transmit unshorn to our children.
In these, the words of Jefferson
Davis spoken before the United
States Senate on June 81, 1861, was
the cause of the Confederacy pre-
sented before the ex-soldiers Of gray,
the men who had sacrificed for that
cause. These words of President
Davis were inscribed on the monu-
ment that was unveiled, they were
reproduced in the speech of the day,
and found echoes in the breast Of
veterans who fought for states
rights which they believed in as a
matter of right and failed to sustain
in might.
Children of Richmond, three thou
sand strong, had drawn the monu-
ment to its place through two miles
of spectators, just as children of that
city has drawn to it's place in capitol
square the monument to George
Washington, the first president Of
the United States of America, whom
Virginia gave to her country.
More happy still was the scene to-
day in which the Confederate veter-
ans were the spectators, the guests
of honor at reunion that was larger
than many held in recent years.
While their ranks have been thin
ing, the veterans and their families
have been growing richer, more
prosperous than they had believed
that they would ever be when the
dark cloud of reconstruction had
settled like a storm upon the fair
Southland. And so they were able
to return to this unveiling, which
will go down in history as the me-
mortal event in the story of the Con-
federacy as it lives in the hearts of
Dixie.
|. General Clement A Evans of Georgia
made the principal address of the
day. When the veil was drawn from
the monument, eyes were lifted up
ward from the statue of Jefferson
Davis to the figure that crowned the
pillar in the center of the colonade.
This is the allegorical figure of a
woman known as ''vindicatrix," rep
resenting the spirit of the South.
At the base of this pillar and on a
pedestal five feet high is the bronze
figure of Mr.. Davis, eight feet in
height.
The inscription on the pedestal is
Jefferson Davis, Exponent of Con-
stitutional principles, Defender Of
State Rights" On each side Of the pc
destal are inscriptions, the one on
the left reading: GAS citizen, soldier,
statesman, he enhanced the glory,
the fame of the United States. When
his allegiance to that government
was terminated by his sovereign
state, as President of the Confed-
eracy, he exalted his country before
the nations
On the right side Of the pedestal
is incribed with constancy and
courage unsurpassed he. sustained
the heavy burden laid upon him by
the people. When their cause was
lost, with dignity he met defeat,
with fortitude he met Imprisonment
and suffering, with entire devotion he
kept the faith" \.
. The sentiment of Jefferson Davis
expressed in the United States Sem
ate that is quoted above, will be in
scribed on the architrave at the top
of the colonade.
A deep and solemn hush prevailed
over the great assembly as the beauty
of the group came upon them. The
red and blue of flags, the music, the
crowds, the gaiety, the Joy of meet
ing comrades had prevailed in the
encampment of old veterans until
this time but in the presence of this
message of grief and pride from the
old South to the new, the message
of patriotism, bravery and proud