Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-08-06


as F2 it and answered the call OF his State rathe
than his naton liberty. the dominant spirit Of the 20
century, has had ardent teacher than Rober
Edward Lee
And while | would do nothing to discourage the spir
OF naonalism, but would # could stamp out the germ
sectional prejudice because believe that sectional preu
dice parasite that saps up the life blood of all de
veopment, all advancement and all progress and yield
nothing OF good in rehrn still in this day Of natona
pro"ess when truly the sets the Sta
ISpengIe Banner when the South has awakened to he
material possibilities and the next tew years will key
bring an untold influx Of varied popuIation,in th'
words of the poet again would say
Lord God Of Hosts, be with us yet
Lest we forget, lest we forget
Lest we forget that the brightest pages Of American
history are those which recount the deeds Of Southern
Statesmen. Southern Heroes and Southern Patriots 1t is
commonplace refer to the part played BY
Southern in laying the foundation of the u. s. Gov
ernment. Thomas Jefferson who penned the declaration
of Independence Washington. the leader of the Revo
uoaary forces, the so-called Father of his country
Madison, Who wrote the matcnless Constitution OF the
IS Monroe, Jackson and others who poloed the ship Of
State out Of its colonial and through the critical period Of
its national history, when to the right bank
rupcy and Enggh re-colonzation, and to the lett
meant bankruptcy also and French colonization. Twas
Southern hands that the ship Of state was pioted on
through the narrow rockbound saghts to the open
and the phenomenal reise of the American Republic Ii
might 90 further but suffice it to say that Virginia we
know as the Mother OF Presidents and her citizens
everywhere laud the Of Washington and jefferson
Madison and Monroe Harrison. Tyler and Taylor was
as' residents Of the United States in Old Virginia
Teinesseans wherever they may be- thrill with pride at
the mention Of Jackson Polk and johnson, who though
born in North Carolina adopted OF the Volunteer
State have filled the Presidents chair.
But what OF Mississippi? What has she done? No
son Of hers has sit upon the Presidential chair OF the
nation No! No Of hers has sit upon the President
ta chair of the nation but Mississippi gave the one and
onl. President to the stormcraded Confederacy.
lirqnians Tennesseans North Carolina, other
eoutheners may thrill with pride the mention of The
names of the great sons of their native STATES It's roh
they should and any Mississppian who will climb the
magnificent slope and teraced approach that leads
up to the Old Confederate Capital building in Montgomery
Ala. and see mbedded in the stone floor there, between
the central columns of the old Lyceuh the gold which
marks the spot where jeff Davis stood when naupuraed
President OF the Confederate States Of America any
Missssippan who will do that and not feel thrill o
pride, hush of and respect for glorious past is
most unworthy gon Of his native state.
The history OF Mississippi, in connection with the
United States back far that OF OF
Sister Southern States but Mississippi has past Of which
she is rightly and justly proud. Through the years in
which she has been tossed upon the stormy OF polite
cal agitation great and intense have been her trials and
her difficulties, The Mexican and the Civil War, the
Reconstruction period and the final problem OF the emin
alton OF the negro from politics. have left their mprnts
upon her history. Yet through all she has come MOI
with banner and tattered from the blast but nobler
and stronger from the afray Mississippi has produced
warriors to whom she can point with pride and admira
ton; Statesmen. known the world for their strength
and ability men revered honored loved And it there is
among her patriots whom respect and revere one
among her heroes whose stands preemnent among
the names OF men: whose memory is glorious her-
age unto prosperity that is Jefferson Davis.
We might spend much time and well in future consider
alton OF the part of the South has played in the building
the nation and euogy upon the OF such great
Mssissippians Sargent 5. Prentiss the Sver-tongu
ed orator. of L. O. {. Lamar the great jurt and states
man, whom as Mssissippis representative in the u. D.
Senate first TO win recognition, not only for his
but TOR the South alter the Civil War; OF Jas l. George
that great constructive statesman who solved the problem
Of the eimaton of the negro from the polls who proved
all adverse the consttuonalv Of he education
qualifications and set the to be followed by all OF
southern States.
My friends; We have met here today, on this the
3rd day of June 909he 101s anveserI Of the death OF
Jefferson Davis The lives the acts and
the deeds OF such men as these and that great army
Southerners who cut down the prime Of lie, be-
fore they had opportunity prove their metal other
fields, but who patriots. for their daring courage
heroism and answering devotion to principle have
seldom been vaed and never been equaled in the history
OF the world. And we Of the younger generations
to take our places in the world Of today let US
not forget that there dourses in veins the blood of
such men these and as their descendants is our
duty to bring dscredit upon their fair memory Let
strive to emulate their example, and
Departing leave behind u.s.
Footprints on the sands Of time"
They makers Of history, defendants Of the Lost
Cause.
And. Lord God Of Hosts. be with us yet
Lest we forget lest we forget"
Lest forget that the cause for which they fought is
not lost For this thought indebted to the
Hon. John Sharp Williams.