The Southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1895-1909, 1908-06-06

iSics II
ment in the South after the war; but this charge,
as We shall see in a moment, is also without
foundation.
Many stories are told illustrating the striking
yet thoroughly easy and natural dignity of the
Confederate President. In our office this week a
man who knew him years ago said: "Mr. Davis
was the only man I have ever known who knew
how to walk" And his dignity was the same
whether he was dealing with prince or pauper.
When on a visit In Raleigh n score OF years ago,
n number OF prominent men called to see him at
the hotel and he excused himself from them after
n time In order that he might speak with his old
negro servant who had gone to his room to pay
his respects and to talk with his former master.
We wish. especially. however, to correct the mis-
taken impression as to Mr.. Davis's attitude toward
tho Union in his last years. What he said In 1871
is not indicative OF his real nature. for the South
was then in the midst OF the saturnalia OF Recon-
struction. the excuses OF which were calculated
TO drive the bravest men into doubt and despair
for the future. A friend who knew him In the
later Tos. speaking to us a few days ago de-
clared. There was no bitterness about him: and
this IL borne on, by the closing chapter Of his
monumental work on THE Rise and Fall of the
Confederate Government"
Singularly pathetic and dramatic Is the last
public appearance OF Mr.. Davis and here We may
bid him adicu. II was the Democratic Convention
Of the Seventh Mississippi District In 1883. Col
oncl Ssockdalc. n Pennsylvania by birth. had
ius, been nominated for Congress and Mr.. Davis.
happening to be In the city. was sent for and ask
cd To address the convention. II was late in the
afternoon. the last rays of tho setting sun fell
upon the white hair of the aged statesman as he
aiood before his hearers. Himself the representa-
i've of a by gone era. he spoke In terms OF en-
conrag"tnent TO the younger men about him to
lit themselves for the new era and the new days In
which their lives were TO be spent. A man who
heard 1t says: MIR. Davis spoke for an hour or
more. Every word no uttered admonished loyalty
10 the Union. and tho burial OF nil sectional feel
Ing. Its effect was to hasten the growing recon
Citation OF the North and South, and the earn
ostness OF his message can never DO forgotten by
those who heard him"
In an old paper We find the following report OF
the frs, paragraph of that address. and It makes
"A fitting word with which to close this sketch OF a
man with whom fate and history have dealt I'm.
kindly. but whom the future will vindicate from
many misconceptions OF our time. In beginning
this last address Mr.. Davis spoke about as fol-
lows:
MI. Chairman and Fellow-Citizens: All. par
don me. the laws OF the United States no longer
permit me TO designate you as fellow citizens. but
am thankful that l may address you as my
friends. feel no regret that l stand before you
this afternoon a man without a country, for my
ambition lies buried In the grave OF the Confeder-
acy. Aye. the grave OF the Confederacy! There
has been consigned not only my ambition. but the
dogmas upon which that government was based.
The faces l see before me are those Of young men:
Ind not Lnnwn fhla / would not hnvn