The southern sentinel., 1908-05-29
DAVIS
ONCE PRESIDENT
The Remarkable Career Of One
of the Greatest Characters
of Human History.

be memorable anniversary
tlFoughout this Southland. 1t
will be emphasized for all time to
come on the pages of history, and
emblazoned anew on the hearts
of a loving people who have not
heretofore been unmindful of its
significance. 1t marks the Tooth
anniversary of one of the. most
prominent and remarkable figures
of the Nineteent6 century. 1t
will recall, with oratory, music,
eulogy aud fitting ceremony the
birthday of jefferson Davis, the
only president of the Confederate
States of America, the most con-
spicuous figure on the losing side
of the most spectacular war in
human history.
BON June 3, 1908 in Kentucky,
lied Dec. s, 1889 in New Orleans,
jefferson Davis, 10 the 81 years
of his existence, centered in his
individual career, more of ro
nance, honor, tragedy and pathOs
than has fallen to the lot of any
individual career known since the
world began.
His personal history is familiar
to every child, every youth and
maiden, every man and woman in
this grand Southland and embla-
zoned abroad throughout the
world in luminous characters that
shall be imperishable as long as
time shall last.
A man, in the perfect significa-
tion of wherein manhood consists,
a soldier, a statesman, a scholar,
his career is more marked than
usually falls to the lot of a single
life. A soldier in the service of
his country, he distinguished him
self on the battlefields of Mexico.
A senator from his adopted State,
Mississippi. Secretary of War in
the cabinet of President Franklin
Pierce, the Democratic leader of
the Thirty-Sixth Congress he
brought to bear the same distin-
guished ability that marked his
whole official and private career.
Elected Feb. 9, 1861 as provi-
sional president of the Confeder-
ate States, then commenced that
spectacular career that made HIM
the most conspicuous and notable
mark amid the array of heroic
figures of intellectual and mill
tary giants of the civil war.
Robert Love thus summarizes
the wonderful attainments and
gifts of this remarkable figure of
the nineteenth century:
"Senator Davis was officially
notified of his election on the "a.
and that Jay he announced his
resignation in a notable speech.
Davis was an orator of the Cice-
roman school. His addresses
were literary productions. His
arguments were expressed in
clear, concise, forceful English,
delivered with the austere dignity
of an old Roman. His tall, spare
form loomed in the senate like
the figure of an ascetic who in
fasting and solitude had tiven
deep consideration to the ques-
tions at issue. In all things he
was a serious minded man, aImc st
to solemnity, and totally lacking
in that saving sense of humor
which Upheld his executive antag
onist at Washington, the story
telling Lincoln, in the years of
sore trial. In his farewell speech
DAVIS defended the South in its
declaration of withdrawal from
the Union. Denied the right of
coercion and begged pardon of all
those whom he might have Of
Tended during his senatorial
career"
1t would be superfuous to at
tempt any thing like sn extended
eulogy of his life, services and
character. His reputation is
world wide. His name has furn-
isbed the theme for impassioned