The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-07
Character of Jefferson Davis
By DIR. E. P. LACEY

(Speech delivered before Bessemer U. D. C. at Celebrationin honor of Jeffer- son Davis birthday.)
 United Daughters of the Confectionery, Confederate Veterans and fellow citizens: We have assembled here today to pay tribute to the memory of a great and good man. I am thankful, indeed that was asked to deliver the address on this occa sion. for it induced me to study with exceeding care, the character of Mir Davis. and I have been impressed as never before with the nobility and great ness of his life. It is fortunate that we have ideals to lift us above the base and sordid things of earth, and inspire us with high and noble plans for life We owe a duty to the dead as well as to the living, and we should never fail to honor the memory of those who have made sac rifices for their fellow countrymen. Jeffer- son Davis was one of the truly great ana good men of the United States and ne was martyr and made to suffer for the southern people. hardships and indigni- ties no other American ever endured at the hands of a civilized people
 He entered public life during the stormy days or the ItIublt, NAch SiohN were unable to settle in the forum of de- bate, questions which eventually were submitted to the arbitrament of arms. Passion, prejudice and hate, usurped tne place of reason, and the contending hosts came into hostile collision and the re- sounding shock was felt around the earth. Like some mighty convulsion of nature, which rends asunder mountains. and leaves tall peaks standing solitary and alone, which speaks in mute eloquence of it's divastating force. The great civil war of 1861, brought to the forefront char acters that stand apart from the rest of mankind as unique figures on the field of fame, and they will elicit the praise of generations yet unborn in every land be- meath the sun.
 Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee were two of the heroic figures of the civil war, and bond of sympathy, trust and friend ship existed between them, which termi- mated only at death. Any cause which had their support, could not be bad, for their brave and noble souls rebelled at the thought of an ignoble or dlshonorapie act. The one in the civil and the other in the military arm of the service, made
 
 had it been within the power of mortals their efforts would have been crowned with success.
 f5onator Ingalls,, while delivering an ora ton on Senator Hiil of Georgia, said: He who fears to die should fear to live, for life is a tragedy more fearful than death" A tragedy came into the life of Jefferson Davis that comes to few men, He was selected by his fellow country men as sponsor and godfather for a young republic which was ushered into the family of nations with bright hopes of a happy and prosperous career. Ii was conceived not in hostility, but I, peace, as a solution of fundamental questions which had existed between sis ter states for years. It believed it de served to live, for it came into existence under similar circumstances to those oi the republic of the United States. The United States had their inception in a secession from Great Britain. The Con- federacy had it's inception in a secession from the United States. The American colonies owed their allegiance to the En glish crown which chartered or gave then birth. The southern people believed thei allegiance was due the states of whicl they were citizens, and not the Unite' States. The revolutionary war was Tough for the independence of the colonies, an not for the independence of the Unite Stahes.
 The Southern Confederacy was assaile by former associates and companions an crushed to death after one of the mos y-coura geous struggles recorded in all his tory. It fell without one blot to tarnis its good name. largely because the wis statesman courageous soldier and Chris tian gentleman. Jefferson Davis directed its destiny. He preferred to see 1t di with an unbemished name rather thar live with one dishonorable act committed by it's brave defenders.
 Jefferson Davis entered West Point 1T 1924 when he was Is years of age. While he was a cadet, textbook on American constitutional laws was used which taugh that secession was right. The name O this book was "Rawls' View of the Con stitution," and the author was Philadel phia lawyer.
 It is strange indeed that so many in telligent people think the south was tn, home of secession. Massachusetts adyo cated state sovereignty or secession II 1S03-1S09 and 1874. January F. 1S4S, Mir Lincoln made a speech in Congress il which he said, Any people anywhere being inclined and having the power, hay, the right to shake off the existing govern ment, and form new one that suit them better.
 MT. Davis graduated at West Point, No 23 in class of B. A cadet, in speakin, of him, said: Jefferson Davis was dis tinguished in the corps of his manly hear