The National tribune., 1909-05-06
JEFF DAVIS SILVER.
Representative HoIIingsworth, Of
Ohio, Calls a Halt on the Re-
crudence OF the Rebellion.

Representative David A. Hollings-
worth. of the 18th Ohio District, and
n Union veteran, has introduced in the
House the following resolution:
by Mr. Hollingsworth:
REQUESTING information from the
Secretary of the Navy as to proposed
gift of silver service. with portrait deco
rations of Jefferson Davis, Tor use Oh
the battleship Mississippi.
"Whereas the dignity and character
of the United States Government ana
its creditable standing at home and
abroad require that its battleships
should be in command of officers inn
bued with high American ideals, healthy
loyalty and a just pride in the history
and institutions of the Government they
serve; and !.
Whereas public monuments, paint
ings, engravings and other works of
art exhibited or used in Government
buildings, structures or in other publlc
places belonging to the General GOV
ernment are intended and should be
calculated to inspire reverence for such
ideals and teach valuable lessons OF
patriotism and love of country; and
Whereas it is reported in the public
press and not contradicted that an elaD-
OTdle silver StENICS stl oi W piSeS-',
with the centerpiece thereof decorated
by an artistic portrait engraving of
Jefferson Davis, the head of the late
Southern Confederacy, has been pur-
chased for presentation to the battle
ship Mississippi for the permanent use
of its officers at social and public func-
tions, to the exclusion of any other ser
vice which might be furnished by the
Government or presented by other dom
ors; and
..Whereas of the 81 officers now in
command of the vessel, including Capt.
John c. Fremont, of California,
worthy descendant of a brave Union
General IL the civil war, only seven
were appointed from the States lately
adhering to the Confederacy, and such
proportion of appointments from the
different States of the Union is likely
to be continued in the future;
Therefore, be it resolved, That the
Secretary of the Navy be requested to
inform the Congress by whose and on
what authority such gift is to be ac
cepted, and what lesson of loyalty or
patriotism such portrait engraving is
intended to teach, and with what ideals
of Government il is expected thereby
to inspire the officers and men now or
hereafter to be in control of such bat
tleship, and especially to ascertain and
inform the Congress whether or not
the proposed gift of silver service thus
decorated and such use of it are agree
able to or desired by the officers now in
command of the Mississippi"
Interview With Representative HOi-
lingswOrth.
In an Interview with Congressman
Hollingsworth, of Ohio, relative to the
gift of silver service, with portrait of
Jeff Davis, to battleship Mississippi, he
said:
my resolution speaks for itself. 1t
follows the line, altho in contrary di-
rection, of the one introduced by Sen
ator Money, of Mississippi, at this ex-
ira session, in which he seeks TO revive
war memories by requiring the Attor-
ney-General to file in the Supreme
Court proceedings to question the va
lidity of the 14th amendment to the
Constitution of the United States. He
challenges directly the official records
and integrity of the Government and
the separate States in the adoption of
that amendment. He seeks to revive
the unhappy discussions and issues Of
the reconstruction period. At the same |
time his State and his people seem to |
think ii quite the thing to place the |
portrait of President Davis, of the |
Southern Confederacy, instead of that
of President Lincoln, of blessed men, |
ory, on the dining service of a United |
States battleship for use at all social |
functions, at home and among foreign |
ers, by United States officers in COM
mand, many of whom, like Capt. John
C. Fremont, are worthy descendants of
the patriotic men who fought on the
side of Lincoln and against Davis dur
ing me civil war.
IL look upon it as humiliating to
four-fifths of the officers and men on
board the vessel. 1t is the elimination
of maudlin sentiment recently devel-
oped, and which seems to manifest it.
"a South by such acts as the restoration
of the name of Davis on Cabin John
Bridge, at Washington, and Senator
Moneys resolution to impeach the in |
tegrity of the 14th amendment and like |
suggestions which few years ago
would have met with a storm of pro-
tests
This extreme tenderness toward the
ruling elements of the South may be
wise, but to one who remembers the |
result of President Hayes's generous
acts extending the same >olive branch |
doubts and misgivings must be ex-
cused. It is all well enough to hide AWAY |
the scars of the war, but there is such
thing as the pendulum of time swing
ing backward beyond the perpendicu- |
lar The thoughtful men of both the |
south and the North are content to |
ABIDE py the impartial judgment of his
: tory, and not seek by such puny senti- |
mental displays to divert the Thoughts
and judgment of the present generation
from the eternal truths vindicated and
settled by the civil war.
Record of the Officers.
II have secured from the Navy De-
bartrnent the following interesting rec
ord of the officers of the Mississippi,
upon whom this Objectionable decora-
tion will be thrust:
Capt. John c. Fremont; date of en-
try. June 25, 1868; born In California;
appointed, from at large.
"Lieut-Commander z. w Sumner;
date OF entry. May 10. 1885: born in
New York; appointed from New York.
Lieut.-Commander Benz. b. McCor-
mick; date of entry. May 10, 1888; born
in New York; appointed from New
York
Lieut. Commander Wat T. Cluver-
fus; date of entry. May 20, 1892; born
In Louisiana; appointed from Louisiana.
Lieut.. VIM. p. Cronan; date fen
try, Sept. 6, 1894; born in Connecticut;
appointed from Connecticut.
Lieut. VIM. p. Cronan: date of en-
try, Sept. I, 1897; born in New Jersey;
appointed from New Jersey.
Lieut.. Clifford Darst; date of entry.
Sept. 21, 1898; born in Ohio; appointed
from West Virginia