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

Davis, and permit me to emphasize this
sentiment: We honor ourselves when
we honor Jefferson Davis, the Civil
Chieftain of the Confederacy.
To this edifce we have come from
the silent City of the Dead, where the
grave of each departed comrade is
marked with Confederate flag, and
with evergreen and flowers in loveful
remembrance of their gallantry and
their loyalty, and, today, as we contem-
plate the shattered ambitions and recall
the scenes and pictures of the past, the
self-sacrifces, the sublimity of the
Women of the South, having dear ones
at the front; when all these come in
panoramic view from the vista of years,
there steals into the eyes of sturdy men
| the tears irrepressible.
RESISTING THE SECTIONAL
| PARTY. .
Perhaps, it would not be pertinent on
| this occasion to dwell on the causes
which led to the Civil War, but, Incl
dentally, it may be said for the infor-
nation of those who do not know it,
that the South simply assumed the de-
fensive, in resisting the sectional party
led by Lincoln and which had aroused
the greatest bitterness against the
Southern States, on issues growing
from the institutions of slavery; and
lest | forget, let me impress on your
mind the fact that the emancipation of
the slave by Mr.. Lincoln was not sug-
gested in spirit of philanthropy, but
If was war measure designed to Grip
pie the South in its agricultural fields
and it is no exaggeration to say that in
the North then, there were individuals
| who had anticipated repetition of the
Hrrors of Hayti, but, fortunately, the
t*aves remained faithful and loyal and
fNere loyal and faithful, until after they
Mszsa'faasd by the baneful and the
accursed teachings of political adven-
turers from the North, who being pro-
tected by Federal bayonets, robbed the
people in the guise of Law
And while the question of slavery
| was involved in the issue, the war was
instigated by Northern seetionaiism. In
the words of Mr.. Davis: 1T, was the
offspring of sectional rivalry and politi-
cal ambition 1t would have manifested
itself just as certainly if slavery had
existed in all the States, or if there had
not been negro in America .
| My friends, in offering resistance to
the abolitionists, the South was moved
by the highest dictates of self-preserva-
ton and in keeping with the cherished
principles of the Constitution as it was
handed down by the Fathers of the Re
public
| Without indulging in review of the
struggles in Congress preceding the
clash of arms, intellectual giants had
battled for the sovereignty of the States,
in which Mr.. Davis was always conspic-
uous, and sufficient be it to say, that
Daniel Webster, the greatest man Of the
North, conceded before his death the
principle involved in States Rights and
the right of the States to withdraw from
the Union, which, however, has beer
zealonsly suppressed and which the
North will not admit today.
Mr.. DAVIS AN EXPANSIONIST
In reverting to history, it is developei i
that Jefferson Davis entered Congress
lin I845, and resigned six months there
latter to engage in the war with Mexico
but in later years was honored with a
lseat in the Senate of the United States
las representative of Mississippi. Mr.
Davis was an expansionist. He labored
Ipatriotically to secure the annexation OF
| Texas, and if was after the war with
Mexico, during which he distinguished
himself in the field with signal ability
land won the plaudits of the people, thai
1.-THE vast domain, including California
land other States, was obtained from
Mexico. Mr. Davis was never a seces-
ls;onist, but he became an extremist az
la champion of States Rights His am
lbition was to develop his country ant
make it all-powerful When he fore
saw the shadows of war athwart tht
Icountry he attempted in vain to diver
1.-THE nations attention from the question
iof slavery which had aroused the Puri
tanical North into frenzy of hate ant
Ispoliation. He pointed to the possible
tiles of the Great West and lie devised
1.-THE construction OF the Southern Pa
Icihc railway He pleaded fervently fol
lpeace, but all his efforts were vain.
i In the years before the appeal to tn.
i sword as the arbiter of the issues be
tween the States, Mr.. Davis had rem
Idered invaluable services to his countr,
in the war against the Mohawk ant
other tribes of Indians; as Colonel 0
Infantry in the Mexican War; as Sec
! retary OF War during the administrator
I &c Er,s,I,1s,, nd rfr