The new South-news., 1909-05-08
MISSISSIPPI silver SERVICE
Ohioan Objects to Portrait OF
Davis Being Used on
The BAT1LESHIP'S SILvERWARE
HoiIinv.worth OF Ohio Thinks 1t Will
Humiliate the Nation. Wants to
Know Why Lincoin's rcr-
trnit Was Not Used.

Washingtos. Representative Hol-
lingsworth. 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 10 preparing to present to
the battleship Mississippi an eIabor-
ate silver service. whose centerpiece
bears an engraved portrait OF Jefer-
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 II
is expected thereby to inspire the
officers and men now and hereafter
The Secretary is asked especially
to ascertain and inform the Congress
whether or not the proposed gift
of 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
cial records and integrity of the Co
vernment and the separate States in
the adoption Of that amendment. He
seeks to revive that unhappy discuss
Ion 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 ain
Ing service OF a United States battle
ship for use at all social functions
tt home and among foreigners by
Vpntted States 2fncers In command
1any 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.
look upon 1t as humiliating to
four-hfths of the officers and men on
board the vessel 1t is the culmi-
nation OF a maudlin sentiment re-
Gently developed and which seems
to manifest itself in sentimental eff
orts, to win the outh by such acts
as the restoration Of the name OF
Davis on Cabin John Bridge at Wash
ington. and Senator Moneys resolu-
tion to impeach the integrity OF the
fourteenth amendment and like sug-
gestions which few years ago would
nave met with a storm of protests
his extreme tenderness toward the
ruling elements Of the South m-y be
wise, but to one who remembers the
result or President Hayes generous
acts In extending the same olive
branch, doubts and misgivings must
be excused"