The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-06-03
Confederate Memorial Day.


son Davis, who was born IN Chris
tian County, now Todd County, OF
June 3, 1903. II is also Confederate
Memorial Day.
AS jefferson Davis was the frs
and the only President of the Con-
federate States of America, the re-
currence Of the anniversary of his
birth may always be recalled with
patriotic interest.
From the historical records of the
United States, from the graduation
of Mr.. Davis at West Point, includ-
ing his gallantry and his distin-
guished service at the battles OF
Monterey and Buena Vista, he dis
tinguished himself for gallantry and
conspicuous courage. No less dis
tinguished was he in the Senate of
the United States, where the bril-
liancy of his intellect lowered over
this body of men, who, as the rep
resentatives of the people, are the
peers and stand at the head of the
greatest legislative bodies On earth
AT this time we are interestej
especially in Mr.. Davis from 1861 to
1865, and to the end of his career.
He opposed secession, but when his
State withdrew from the Union, as
loyal and dutiful son, his allie
glance was with his State. He was
elected President of the Confeder-
acy against his wishes. His inclina-
tions and his desires were to engage
in the military service, but he yield
ed to the inevitable. During the
progress of the war, with limit
ed opportunities, when everything
needful had to be created, Mr.. Davis
did all that could have been done
especially in the face of overWhelm-
ing numbers recruited from all the
nations of earth, equipped with SUI
perior arms and commissary that
was supplied with everything need
full for their army and their navy.
As contrast, it may be said tina
the Confederates fought the battle
of Franklin, Tenn, one of the blood
lest of the struggle, without having
been rationed, while the Federals,
well fed and fat, were provided with
full rations. which the Confederates
appropriated to their own use.
1t is in the Rise and Fall of the
Confederate States that Mr.. Davis
celebrates on the principles upon
which the Confederacy was based.
The South never had a more pa
triOtic defender than Mr.. Davis, who
was a statesman with clean hands
and a pure heart, who 3erved the
people faithfully from budding
manhood to hoary age, without
thought of self, with unbending in
tegrity and the best of his great
ability"
And, as we peer into the future,
we may say that within our own
lifetime we have seen the States of
the South sever their relation with
the States of the North, as it was
their right, as guaranteed by the
compact between the States of the
Union.
We have experienced all the hor-
rors of the fratricidal strife. We
have beheld the arrest of Mr.. Davis,
in Georgia on May 10, 1865, when he
was trying to make his way to the
Trans-Mississippi Department. We
have been chagrined over the incar-
cerauon of Mr.. Davis in Fortress
Monroe for two years, on a charge
Of treason, which the United States
Government dared not try; and af-
Ter he had been released on bail, his
bondman being Horace Greedy, the
great abolitionist and the editor of
he New York Tribune, the indict-
nent against Mr.. Davis. was two
years thereafter dismissed.
IN the dismissal OF the indictment
he government of the United States
admitted, ostensibly if not directly,
hat Mr.. Davis was guiltless of any
rhine and that the States of the
south in withdrawing from the I'M
on were right.
Again, as we peer into the pas,
We behold the horrors of : recon-
truction when there was attempted
he Authorization of the South.
)uring this terrible ordeal, the in
luence of Mr.. Davis was directed
ilently but effectively in council !;
wise and potent. 1t was the Confed- y
rate soldier who again breasted the !
torn and finally swept the vandals
rom power and position. 1t was the
confederate soldier who maintained
he rule of civilization and whiteI
in the South. II
On this Memorial Day we may| !,