The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-03
rErrrRsoN DAVIS.

| JEFFERSON DANts.
 The centennial of the birth of Jeffer- son Davis and the changes in the judg- ment of the man that the day wit nesses give point and meaning to the old saying Truth is the daughter of Time" and that other That which is wiser than all men is Time" Time Is slowly but surely establishing the rank amongst the distinguished men of the world of one who was grossly maligned at the North for many years, and misunderstood even by not few of his own people. His fame we can now unhesitatingly declare is secure. Time has awarded him rank with the greatest men this country has pro- dused and the probability is remote enough that he will ever be or can be displaced. He was late in reaping but his reward has come.
 This is not the place to review the life of Mir Davis. That life was so open q book that all who have cared to know it's achievement and sufferings could easily read and comprehend. He knew at no time in his career any thing of intrigue or cabal He stood sauarely on his feet facing man as he faced Heaven with outspoken candor. with loyalty to convictions and with undaunted courage.
 Mir. Davis was predestined to be the President of the Confederate States The hint here and there that there were politics in his selection is totally without foundation in fact. He stepped in 1861 to the leadership of the new State as naturally as did Washington go to the head of the rejuyenated State of 17ss Fifty-three years of age when our great war came on, his admirers may we'll have felt that this span of life had been one of steady preparation for the great task that was laid upon him.
 His training at school had been of the best and in particular his four years at West Point had helped to endow him with the 1.-the and vigor- ous body and the finely educated mind that stood him in such good stead in after years. Several years of experi- ence on the. plains contributed stiif further to enlarge the range of his vision: but 1t is to his study on his Mississippi plantation to which he re- tired for ten years after resigning from the army that the real secret will be found of his power as a thinker and debater Here he forged the adaman- tine chain of his reasoning in behalf of the South. When Mr. Davis made his first public appearance in Congress. John Quincy Adams said, That young man is no ordinary man. He will make his mark yet. mind me-" There was never day passed in his Wash ington career but found him enjoying an added respect. He is acknowledg- ed to have been one of the greatest secretary's of War the country has had. It was the logical and inevitable outcome of so clean and consistent and able course in affairs of State that the choice at Montgomery in 1881 should fall on him. The choice was unanimous.
 It is the idlest of speculation to ponder whether with another President the result might have been different. We are all now contented in the Union. As to MT. Davis it is enough to say he gave the South the amplest measure of noble devotion; loved on with pas sionate love until the grave claimed him. and that he has left us the mem ory of a proud stainless patriot. to honor whom is not so much a duty as an unfeigned pleasure and joy.