Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-11-01
MgMoalAL ExgacIsEs.

memory OF Hon. George Davis OF that
city, who was the brother Of our
friend, Judge Horatio Davis. The
orator OF the occasion was Col. A. N.
Waddell distinguished son Of the
Old North State, and in that address
he spoke in part as follows;
mo memorial has yet been erected
IN North Carolina to commemorate a
uuer patriot, more profoundly learn
Cd jurist, a more accomplished orator
and scholar OF more stainless gentle
man than he whose statue will stand
ABOVE the corner stone laid here to-
day. Descended from some Of the
most distinguished Of the original set
tiers Of this Cape Fear country. he
attained greater distinction than any
of them and wore his well-earned
laurels with modesty as rare as it
was unaffected
"As he who stands at the base Of
noble structure cannot by his physi-
cal eyesight take in all the architee-
tural beauty, so we cannot by our
mental vision see in their just proper
lions the qualities OF greatness In
those with whom we are brought into,
close and familiar contact. A little
distance is necessary In the one case
as in the other TO get true view.
The people of Wilmington among
whom he passed nearly hts whole life
we're too close 10 Mr.. Davis to realize
fully the splendid proportions OF his
intellectual and moral charac-
ter. His natural dignity and reserve
were so softened by his genial and
kindly spirit that the humblest of his
acquaintance we're among the warm
est of his admirers. He was too big
man for affectations Of any kind, and
he was too sturdily honest to compro.
mise HIS conviction on any subject;
therefore, while always courteous and
considerate towards those who differ
ed with him. his judgments which
were always well considered were apt
to be hnaL
AS lawyer deeply yersed In the
principles OF the science he had no
superior at the North Carolina Bar;
as an advocate he had no equal as
platform orator he was without
peer, and as a manly man OF spotless
character, and the highest ideals in
every sphere Of life, he was a model
gentleman.
prior 60 the war Mr. Davis was a
strong union man, and opposed to
secession. He was trusted and hon
cred however. by all parties in the
State and was appointed one OF the
Peace Commissioners 60 Washington
IN 1861, who. Il VAS hoped, might
eject a reconciliation between the
two sections, Finding that this could
no, be done, except upon terms which
The commissioners believed to be de
grading and dlshonorable to the State.
he returned and delivered his message
TO that effect to the people OF this
city, who assembled In vast crowd
TO hear him. No one who attended
that meeting can ever forget Il. for
the speech he made. Il was master,
ly discussion OF the situation and
splendid display OF his powers, and
when that crowd dispersed there was
no longer any division OF sentiment
as TO the necessity OF preparing for
selfdofcnse and the preservation OF
the constitutional liberty. The only
other speech OF his that I shall men.
ton was that delivered IN the opera
house IN 1865. when the carpet.hag
gentry were ruling and robbing the
people OF the State. That was the
greatest speech OF bis life and was
pronounced by competent judges 60
be the most brilliant one ever deliver.
"a IN North Carolina,
"Mr Davis, as YOU an know. was
Senator and later the Attorney. Gen.
eral Of the Confederate States IN both
OF which positions he won the un
qualified respect Of his associates and
the ahecuouate confidence OF the
President. He was che honored friend
OF Robert n. Lee, for that greatest Of
Americans recOgniEed IN him the
same lofty moral traits which On.
nobled his own character and with
ont which no man can b truly greal