The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1909-05-08
MISSISSIPPI silver SERVICE
Ohioan Objects to Portrait of
Davis Being Used on
The BATTLESHIP'S SILVERWARE
HollingsWorth of Ohio Thinks it VIII
Humiliate the Nation. Wants to
Know Why Lincolns Por-
trait Was Not Used.

Washingtos.-Representative Hol-
NngsWorth, OF Ohio, has prepared a
resolution calling on the Secretary
of the Navy FOR Information relative
to the report that the State of Mis-
sissippi is preparing to present to
the battleship Mississippi an elabor-
ate silver service, whose centerpiece
bears an engraved portrait of Jeffer-
son Davis. The preamble declares
that "the dignity and character of
the United States Government and its
creditable standing at home and
abroad requires that its battleships
should be in command of officers
imbued with high American ideals,
healthy and just pride in the histo-
ry loyalty and just pride in the
history and institutions of the Co
vernment they serve"
The resolution asks: "By whom
and on what authority such gift is to
be accepted and what lesson of 10y
atty or patriotism such portrait en-
craving is intended to teach, and
with what ideals of Government it
is expected thereby to inspire the
officers and men now and hereafter
to be in control of such battleship?"
The Secretary is asked especially
to ascertain and inform the Congress
whether or not the proposed gift
of a silver service thus decorated
and such use of it are agreeable Or
desired by the officers now in COM
mand of the Mississippi
In an interview Mr.. Hollingsworth
said:
In follows the line, although in
contrary direction, of the one intro
duced by Senator Money, of Mississip-
pi, in which he seeks to revive memo
ries of the war by requesting the At
torney General to file in the Supre-
me Court proceedings to question the
validity of the fourteenth amendment
of the Constitution of the United
States. He challenges directly the Off
cia1 records and integrity or rnU GU=
vernment and the separate States In
the adontinn Of that amendment. He
sealks to xevive that unhappy discuss
f6h and issues Of the Reconstruc-
ton period. At the same time his
State and his people seem to think
1t quite the thing to place portrait
of President Davis of the Confeder-
acy, instead of that of President Lin
coin, of blessed memory, on the din
ing service of United States battle
ship for use at all social functions
at home and among foreigners by
United States officers in command,
many of whom, like Captain John c..
Fremont, are worthy descendants of
The patriotic coin and against Davis
The patriotic men who fought on the
side of Lincoln and against Davis
during the Civil War.
II look upon it as humiliating to
,our-fifths of the officers and men on
BOARD the vessel 1t is the culmi-
nation of maudlin sentiment re-
,ently developed and which seems
o manifest itself in sentimental eff
)rts, to win the outh by such acts
Is the restoration of the name of
Davis on Cabin John Bridge at Wash
ngton, and Senator Moneys resolu-
ion to impeach the integrity of the
ourteenth amendment and like sug-
,estfons which a few years ago would
lave met with a storm of protests.
This extreme tenderness toward the
uling elements Of the South may be
wise, but to one who remembers the
esult of President Hayes generous
cts in extending the same olive
,ranch, doubts and misgivings must
,e excused"