The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-06-04
JEFFERSON DAVIS MONUMENT
Unveiled in Richmond Ycste:da; -
The Capital Of Virginia Again Re
minded of the Days When it
Was Capital of
Nation.


glory Of the time when it was Tn;
capital Of a nation with an ambition
that was world-wihc. As the monu
mcnt TO Jefferson Davis, the prcsi.
dent OF the Confederate States OF
America, was unveiled men who had
fought for that nations lost cause
stood with hair graycr than their old
uniforms to hear the eu1ogy of their
dead president and the principles he
represented.
"Not IN hostility to others, not to
1nJure amy section of the country, not
even Tor "nr own prruniary benefit.
but from the hi~h and solemn motive
Of pr"trrtin" ihc rights we inherited
and which il IS our duty to transmit
nnSll"rn tn our chillrcn.'
In these. the words Of Jefferson
Davis Sw"kr% before the United
States Senate on June 81, 1861, WAS
the cause of the Cnnfc,lcracy present.
cd before the rX-soldicrs Of gray, the
man VIII" had sacrificed for that
cause. These words Of President
Davis were inscribed on the monu-
mrni that WAS unveiled, they were
reproduced in the speech Of the day,
and found echoes in the breast of
veterans who fought for state's >
rights which they believed in rs a
matter of right and failed to sustain
In might
Children of Rirhmnnd. three ihnus
and strong, had drawn the monument
I" lis place through two miles Of
spectators, just as children Of that
city had drawn to It's place in capi-
tol Square the monumcn! to George
Washington. the Tid'St president of
the United States of America, whom
\r2Inia gave |" her country.
Mere happy still was the scene to-
day III which the CoN fcdcratc vet
Grams were fine spectators, the guests
O! h"n"r at il reunion that was larger
than many held in recent wears.
While their ranks have been thin
nl'E. tit" veterans and their families
have been growing richer, more pros
porous than they had believed that
they would ever he when the dark
cl"ua OF reconstruction had settled
like storm upon the fair Southland.
And so they were able to return to
this unvcilmY, which will go down in
history rs the memorial event in the
story Of the Confcdcracy as it lives
in the hearts of I)ivip
General Clement A. Evans of
Georgia made the principal address
of the day. When the veil was drawn
from the monument, eyes were lifted
upward from the statue Of Jefferson
Davis to the figure that crowned the
pillar in the center Of the collonadc.
This is the allegorical figure Of a
woman known as "Vindicatrix, -
representing the spirit OF the South.
AT the base OF this pillar and on II
pedestal five feet high is the bronze
figure Of Mr.. Davis, eight feet in
height.
The inscription on the pedestal is
"jeiler>rn Davis, Exponent Of Con-
stitutional Principles, Defender of
State Ri"hts.' On each side of the
pedestal are inscriptions, the one on
the left reading: GAS Citizen, SOL
dicr, statesman, he enhanced the
glory, the fame of the United States.
When his allegiance to that govern
meat waS terminated by his Sovcr-
"l"n state, rs President Of the Con-
icdcracy, he exalted his country be-
fore the nationS.'
On thr right side Of the pedestal
is inscribed "With constancy and
courage unsurpassed he sustained the
heavy burden laid upon him by the
people. When their cause was lost,
fortitudc he met imprisonment and
suffering, with entire %lcvotion he
kept the faith."
!. The sentiment of jefferson Davis
expressed in the United States Sen
ate that is quoted above. will be in
scribcd on the architradc at the top
of the collonadc.
\. deep and solemn hush prevailed
over the great assembly as the beau
ty Of the group came upon them. The
red and blue Of flags, the music, the
crowds, the gaicty, the joy Of meeting
comrades had prevailed in the en-
campmcnt of old veterans until this
time but in the presence Of this mes
sage Of grief and pride from the old
South tO the now. the messooe of na-