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History
ration. And yet all ast» and countries hare reoo<-
wired that those who, devdling themselves to the
public ktvIcc. bare ltd the people through great
peril*, and, by dUtlngnUhcd career*, added to Ibe
fiat renown of their country, were entitled to
ibelr highest reaped, honor and veneration.
1 he children of Iarael wept for their peat leader
and deliverer on the plalua of Moso. The men of
Athens gathered at the graves of three who fell at
Marathon and pronounced panegyric* upon them.
Thl* rcntlmenil* an honor to the living a* well
aa the dead. It la Jnat, for no merely human pur-
anlt is higher than that public service which non*
catly and Intelligently devotee lt«elf to the com*
non weal. There la no study more worthy of the
highest faculties of the mind than that which
weeks after the nature of civil government, applies
It to its legitimate use* and end*, and properly
limits It* power*. No object Is more worthy of
the nobleft philanthropy of the heart than
oodety and the state. It la not only honorable and
lu*t, but Ilk© all high sentiment, ft la useful—for
Junior* to the dead are incentives to the living.
Monuments to our great and good should he mulil-
pUid. May 1 take the liberty on tht* occasion of
raige*ting to the bar and people of the state to pro
vide a fitting memorial to the distinguished chief
justice who so long presided over our supreme
court. whose decision?* are such splendid sjiechnens
of Judicial research and learning, and whose career
recall* Wharton's picture of Nottingham "seated
upon fit* throne with a ray of glory about hU head,
his ermine without spot or blemish, bl* balance In
his right hand, mercy on hi* left, splendor and
hrightnem at his feet, his tongue dispensing truth,
goodness, virtue and Justice to mankind." And
by its side, and worthy of such association, anoth
er to commemorate the sturdy virtue, unswerving
fidt-llty under great trials, and worthy public ca
reer of that other chief Justice who so recently
passed from among us. The publle disposition to
honor the dead too often finds Its only expr&o
idon in the resolutions of publle assemblies, and
the exhibition In poblle places of embloms of
mourning. 10011 to be removed. • • • •
As a Mm of Georgia be eminently merit* this en
during memorial and ail the honors conferred hy
this vast concourse of grateful and ad wiring coun
trymen. Horn upon her soil, reared among her
people, educated at her schools, permeated by tho
Influences of her society and civilisation, he plead
wltb an eloquence uusurpamed by any or her sons
for whatever would promote her weal, and warn
ed against every danger his sagacious eye detected
•hrentetilng her prosperity. Called into publle
•ervIce at an curly age, be at once gave aemranoo
of the high dUtlnrtlon he afterwards attained.
For years his public career was a straggle against
prevailing principles and policies tut believed to
be dangerous, ana he stood conspicuous against
as powerful a combination of ability and
11 1 'i’i
I .1 I I .Ill
failures to achieve victory only called fora re
newal of the straggle with unbroken spirit nod
purpose. Failure he did not suffer, for his very de
feats were victories. To say, as mag he Justly said,
that he was conspicuous among those who have
madeoui'history for thirty years la high encomium.
Muring that period the most memorable events of
our past have transpired. U recalls besides hi*
own the names and careen of Htephena, Toombs,
the Cohbe. Johnson, and Jenktos. In what sky
has brighter galaxy ever shooeT The statesman-
•hip. the oratory, the public and private virtue It
exhibits should swell every breast with iNUriotlo
pride. In some of the highest qualifications of
leadership. Mime of his day surpassed him. Ho
did not seek success hy the scheme* of hid
den caucus or crafty manipulation. Ho
won his triumphs on the arena of open, fair d*-
bate before the people. An earnest student of
public questions, he boldly proclaimed his con
clusions. The power of opposition majorities did
aot deter him. As a leader of minorities Im wa*
unequalled. As an orator at the forum, before a
E pular assembly or convention, In the bouso of
prcM ntallvc* or the senate eharolier In ootrere**,
• waa tho acknowledged equal of the greatest
men who have lllnstrsted our stale end national
history for a quarter of a century. He was thor
ite blf equipped with a masterly logic, a captive
king eloquence, a burning Inveettve, a power of
dennuelatIon—with every weapon In the armory
« fpoken and written language, and used all
with a force and skill that entitled him as a de
bater to the highest dUtlnrtlon. While the most
unfriendly criticism cannot deny him the highest
gills of oratory, some have withheld from him the
praise due to that calm Judgment that look* at
nwnlfs, that polplral foresight that belong* to a
statesmanship. Judged by this Just
atabdaad. who among the distinguished sons of
Cs o*gla In that |* red when lier people must
S eeded that Judy merit and sagacity Is entitled to a
Ight r honor? Who more clearly fun-saw lu the
clouds that flecked our political sky tho storm that
was coming? What watchman, stationed to Nlgtinl
tba hrst approsch of danger. h*d more far- re-ten lug
jWsnJ what pilot, oharged with the guldauncof
out of the union, or had liettcr lie bornu than tho
fteater evils tha sou Id follow dissolution, he op
posed the secession of the state Wemav not now
undertake to trace the operation of tho cau** that
brought about that event. We can Justly appre
ciate bow It could not appear to other* as It did to
«». Aa to ns, U waa not prompted hv hatred or the
union resting In the consent of the pconl-, an-l
governed l>y tneconstitutlnnofour father*. It was
not Intended to subvert the vital prluclples of the
tuvernment they founded, tail to perpetuate
them..The government of the new did not differ
la its form nr any of Us ea*entUI principles rnm
the old confederacy. The constitutions were Ihc
••we, except such ehangea aa the wisdom of axae-
rW nee suggested. The southern confederacy con
templated no invasion or conquest, lu chief cor-
her Hone was md African slavery. Its foundations
were laid to the duetrines of the fathers of tho re-
C hile, and the elite/ corner stone was theesaen-
I fundamental principle of free gnvernmoiu;
w-at all r*venimenU derive their Just powers irom
the consent of the governed, its purpose was not
•d rerpvt uatr; the slavery of the black race, but to
•jvesenre the liberty of the white race of the south.
It w as •Bother declaration of American ladepend-
u»0PWy°ftheir motive*, la the MU-
mss of their patriotism. In their loro of liberty,
TftS****!^ 0 5 nd “AlnfeloM the drat were
But worth or than they who declared an I failed in
yjH 1 ’ .Animated by such purpose*, aspiring to
WttJWlW then (and wltnuut
D ° " nd u P wn movement.
waa (here more love of liotno. of country and of
liberty? Deriving their theories of government
from the constitution, her public oniccrx never
abandoned those principles upon which alone
the governmetd could stand; esteeming their
public virtue aB highly aa their private
honor, they watched and exposed every
form of extravagance, and every approach
of corruption, ller religious teachers deriving their
theology ftnm the Bible, guarded the church from
being spoiled "through philosophy and vain deceit
•fler the traditions or men, after the rudiments of
the world, and not after Christ." Her women
adorned lho highest social circles of Korop* ami
America with their modesty, beauty and culture.
Her men In every society, w oo a higher title than
"lho mud old name of 'gentleman* "-that '
•Southern gentlemen.'* ♦ • ♦ 9
There are trials severer than war. and calamli...
worse than the defeat of arms. The south was to
pass through such trials and be threatened with
such calamities by the events of that period. Now
and then It seems that all the latent and pent up
rorresof the natural world are turued loose for ter-
rible destruction. The foundations of tha earth,
laid In the depths of the ages are shaken by
mighty upheavals, the heaveus, whoso blacknoas
* W . M by. war on the south ami her
gyyplfi JN "** *ho south and who were her
who seem to thluk she
nurtured a Enas whose very shadow blighted
iJf *o l m * d * herelvlIUatloo Inferior.
ALft* and the ehancter
and history of that people answer. Where do you
loth for the civilisation of o people? In their his-
THE WEEh./.Y CONSTITUTION, ATLANTA, GA.. TUlfiSDAlT MAY 4 1886
SCENE OF THE UNVEILING OF THE HILL STATUE SATURDAY.
tcuy. lu their achievements, In thclr institutions,
in tLclr character. In their men aud women, in
tl.elT love of liberty and country, In their fear of
tlort. in their contribution* to the progress of so
ciety and the rare. Measured by tlii* high stand
ard. where was there a grander and nobler civili
sation than hers? Where ha* thero been greater
love of learning than that which established hur
colleges aud inilveraltle*? Where hotter prepare-
..i system. Whose people w _~ - -
l-crmial honor? Whose business
and cotntnerco was controlled hy
higher Integrity? Whoso jmbllo men
bad cleaner hands and purer record*? Whoso sol
diers were braver or kulghtlieri Whom orators
more*loqticnt and persuasive? Whose statesmen
more wise and e«ii>servatlve? Whtwo young moo
more chtvalrlc? Whose young women more chaste?
Whoso fathers and mothers worthier example*?
Who*e homes more abounded In hospitality a*
genial and free to every friendly comer aa tho sun
Is unrelieved by a single Mar, roll their portentlo-H intensified the gaze of the mariner on the star
thundering*, "and nature, writhing in pain that shall lead nim out of darkness Add danger,
through an her works gives signs of woe." Tho
Unit* ol yeaisof industry are swept away Inan hour;
the landmarks j>f axes arc obliterated without
.ks ages arc -
a vestige; the atnrdlcrt oak that has stuck deep lis
roots In the bosom of the earth Is the plaything of
the maddruttk wind*; the rocks that mark the
h ttnslioti of whole. geological period* are tent,
slid deep gorges lu tho tnouotaiu side like ugl
L«-v
.. property rcmalue-l wa* hold hy
..- tenure hut the capricious will of tho plunderer;
liberty and life was at tho .mercy of the conqueror,
thosnetlty ot hon e was Invaded; vice triumph
ed over virtne; lgi.oranco ruled in lordly and
haughty dominion over Intelllgeuec; the weak
were oppressed; tbc|unoffoiuMng insulted; the fall
en warred on; truth was silenced; falsehood, un
blushing and brazen, stalked abroad unrhallemr-
id; anxiety filled every heart; appretiou*iou
clouded every prospect; despair shadowed ev«rv
hi si thstone; society wa* disorganized; legUla'urex
dlspened; Judge* torn from thclr seat* by lira
strong nrm of mllitaiy power, xtatea subverted;
arrests mode, trials bad ami leniences pronou-cei
without evidence: madness, lust, hnte, and crl n u
•f every hue, detiant, wicked and diabolical nilod
the hour, until the very air tras rent wltn thp Cry,
ai d heavens deep concave, fchi* d tho wall:
"Alas! Our country sinks beneath tho yoke:
Jt weeps, It bleeds, and each tiuw day a gush 1*
added to her wounds." • • • *
Among all the true sous of Georgia and of tho
south In that day, one form stand* conspicuous.
No tear blanched his cheek, tiodauger daunted Ills
loiirsgeoussoul HI* very piVH-uec Imparted o.sur-
sge. bis very eye Hashed entbuslasin. Uuawo«t hy
|owir, in.hilled by honor, he sUxai in the inldit
of the i* ills that environed him, bravo a* Ta il bo-
foie tin batibi drfm, ready for bond* ordesth.tMO a*
ihe nun st Itutiuyniede. sud as eh qticnt a* Henry
admiring gaze. Ills crested bsUnet
wave* high when* the battle I* fiercest, tho pure
tays of tbcsun relieved ftwtn Ilia glpt-rlnz «hloM
ate not purer Jhan the fires that bum In the breast
tt covers. His clarion vole© mug out louder thou
the liu of battle, like the busle oi<uu ot siugnlaa l
ehW I rcKtuudlux over hill aud mmiuulu au t gloo.
Mimmonlog hh e.’ans to tho defeme of home and
* s-vty, and thrilled evtry heart audherved every
arm.
11 was the form and voice of Hill.
Not only Is ho entitled to the houor wo confer
upon him bv the events of this day. am! higher
hot or, lfliigbtr thcie could Is*, a- a tioorgiau. but
ss a >ou of the south. Tho great weri boa*t*th*t
It gave Lincoln to the country and th* wirld.
New England exults with peculiar prido in tha
name and history of Webster, aud one of tier must
distinguished Maui. up. n the roceul occa-ion or
the ec uipleilon of the Washington motiuuicm. In
an oration worthy of lih suhh et, did not he*itato
tossy: "I am myself a New Kuglandcr by birth.
\ son of Ma*sachusetts. Imund by tho strongest
ies of aficetlon and of blood to houor and renerate
. .j the greater the peril the more earnestly he con-
tiud.d for the principle* of tho constltutiou Hu
regaided the AmrricMn system of government a*
the widest ever devised by the wisdom of m*n t
and ever ready to a**ert and vindicate thclr Jn*t
renown." W by should not we cherish the sams
h< notable sentiment, and point with nrldo to the
names with which we have adorned our country's
hMoty? "’hat '* there «o <"-r pa*» which
wo need be Bshtaed? What la
there ii. which we oukui ..«>> to go.or They
tell us to let th« dead past be hurie«l. Well,
be it so. We are willing to forget; we this day
proclaim and bind It by tho highest sanction—the
sacred ooligstion of southern houor—that we have
forgotten all of the past that should not beeber
tsbed. We stand in the way of no true progress.
We freely pledge our hearts and hands to every
thing that will promote the prosperity and glory
of our country, llut there la a past thst Is not
dead—that cannot die. It moves upon us tt
>l>cak*tons. Every Instinct of noble manhood,
every Impulse of gratitude, every* obligation of
honor demand* (hat we cherish It. We are brand
In It by t.es stronger than the cable thst bin I* the
continents, and lkld as deeps.*iu human nature. Wo
llud the expression of that sentiment in every me
morial we erect to mrommmor i'o those
we hive. In the unpretentious >lab of the
country churebyard. lu the palate l win
dows of the cathedral, in the unpolhhed*
head-stone aud the cost!1c-t mau«nlemof nurcttle*
of the dead. It dedicated the Roman Pantheon.
It has rilled Trafalgar square ami Westminster Ab
bey with memorials ol those who for centuries
have made the pnetnr, tho literature, tho science,
the s*atemansMp, the oratory, tho military and
naval gh»»y—the civilization of Knslaud. It has
adomrd the squares of our own w^hiugton city
and filled every rotunda, corridor and niche of the
caibol with statues and monument* anl haste
until we have assembled a congress «»f th* dead to
Irrtiuet. Inspire and cnlde the entigre** of rite tv-
lug, while, higher than all surrounding objects,
lowerit g above lho loftlv demo of the eapltol.
stands the obslUk to Washington. • • •
No son of the south had higher elainu upon our
w»c wi-mrMirwvinN u; mu vi u»u.
gu’ded by abcoeticei't Providence which seeme«l
to have chosen them for the highest achievements
of the race. Heestcemcd it not only for hi* own,
but for all people tbc greatest production of mau.
tho richest gift of heaven except the Ultde arid
CbriMlHtilty. Jtut to him tho state* wreroa* much
• part of that system s* the general government.
His indissoluble union was composed of Inde
structible Mate*. Hu opposed sectionalism under
•ny guUe, and flroni any quarter. A* long a* It
>1 oke the truth, he honored anti loved the flag of
Ms country. For so long, wherever it floated, from
the dome of the national capital at home, or under
foreign »ktea; leading the armies af the republic
to died* of highest valor iu war, or slgualtzlng
the peaceful pursuits of oummcrce; at all
ttmes and everywhere; at homo or abroad, on the
land and on tbe sea. In peace or war, It* stripe*
uttered one voice—of good will to Its friends and
f roud defiance to it* enemies -while the stars
hat glittered u|K>n its ample folds told of free and
(qual states. Thus looking at It hu could ux-
elaliu with pafrlotle fervor: Flag or the nniout
Wave on. wave over. Wave over tho great and
piosperous north, wave over the thrifty and his
tone east, wave over tho young and expau ltux
west, wave over onr own south tint!! the union
shall be »o firmly planted lu (lie hearts of all tho
I coplc that no luteri eciue war shall break our
I *see, no sectionalism shall disturu harmony!
'lag oi the free! Ware on until tho nation* bin*.
Ingupon thee shall catch Hie contagion of frea-
lit
in his dialingufshtd career when ho would u
likvo arrested mu! stricken dowu any arm lifted
ngaliist that flag speaking the truth. Hut hu would
have It wave over "sinus, not province*; over free
men. not slaves," and never wits a riino whoa
ilsui.tiiig a lie, hy whomsoever borne, ho would
l ot have desplM-U and trampled upon It. Thl* was
Hue Ameiium patriotism.
*1 bough loyal to Georgia aud tho south during
the period of separation, he rejoiced at their re-
s'oratiou to the union. No mariner to***d ihrouxti
long i.iglit* i u uiiehoaen aud teinpestuou* sea*
ever hailed the day of return to trauqull port more
glially ihsn he hailed the day of tho restoration of
the states. No son driven hy fortunos hu could not
utroi horn the paternal roof, ever left that root
mrnt," lit up by the splendor of thl* unclouded
n.utlu m sun on Ibis august occariou, dignified by
tbe bijiheM officer* of municipality and state, aud
rtlilmon- by the presence of tlic most illustrious liv
ing as well a* the spirits of tho m*wt lllunrlou*
dead, we coir.ein grand procession—child hood and
age, young men and maidens, old men and
matrons, from country aud village and cite, from
hovel and . cottage and mansion, from field and
>h('p and mart aud office, from every purauit and
rsi x and Mat on. and with united heart* and
voice*, crown thee with the undying admiration,
gratitude and love of thy countrymen.
General Longstreet’a Arrival.
While Mr. Mack waa speaking, General
James Longstreot, wearing a uniform of con
federate gray, walked upon the platform.
Ills appearance was tho signal for an enthus
iastic outburst of cheers. Tho general was
gtv»n a chair next to Mr. Dtvl*.
wo tut* day h/.ior.
BENJAMIN HARVEY HILL.
gratitude than L_
AaatnM hi* convictions he followed th** *.mth into
•ccesf l«n and war. True to her In ihu -lays of that
war she waged for separate nationality; true to
her In the darker days that follow** that war,
whrn she waa denied admission into the union,
•tier hrr restoration he apiod In tho h>m-«> nr repre-
seiitatives and the sen*to chamber th* br*ve>t and
Biost eloquent of her defenders roosting *v»-rv In
vasion of her rights, and defiantly and triumph
antly hurling bsok every a-sonlt upon her hmw.
Not only as a son of ttrorgia and tho son h d«M« hu
mi rlt i he tribute of our highest nraise, h iu- a cltl-
» nof tbe republic, lie wasaprofmm-lMu !«-ntnf.wir
system of government, and his fcnowledc* o'that
agate m was not only displayed in his ruM'C trier
ancts, but U written in the lives and ch.-iro-wra of
tbe yntit g men of Georgia who learne-1 fo»m him
at the Hate university, an t who lu ail the depart-
inents of public service are entering into c*re-r» of
the hishest useftrii.e-s ar.d «li-t-notion. “M-rttus
est twtere fttntrwqikam sretari rlvuht« " Maliww*
aid \trr»t«rw«rehlsirarbera. NeverdiI •talent
have I etter tractors; never teachers U tter *:>: lent
MtUler wa* not m«we fnten-u In ht-1 »v • f»- tn--
urlon o» originally established by the f.vmderaof
t) erentielU’ with the nnderlying principle-of that
U-lonne waa familiar. Tohiintbe %ra*nc«nunion
was rot the territory over which the tUg fl atted
and the laws wwre a-lminteterod It wa* a -vst-nn
of g-iTcrnncnt embracing a general gore-nm-Mit
for set era 1 purpose*, and local governments for
local purpi***. eorh ltke the • sphere- in the
hr avers, to be confined to its own orbit, aad n.*ilhvr
the dbvusrion of oil qw-tton*/ la* tha
shapi' g nf at* IwtHfe* He W»'k-d t-* »h-*
CvbfUiuUun AMl.c ilcrrvKts'ot u*v st->rjspu</
w itb sadder partliu; mau be left the union, or ro-
tumid from the storm* without to the shelter o'
tome with wilder transport of Joytuau he felt
wl,«u the south waa again admitted to "our
Esther's house."
Permanent peace and unity in republic or mon
archy raiiuol lie secured by the power of the sword
or the authority of legUUilou. Eng
land, with all her power au i
-tstomanshtp, baa irk'd thst for centimes and
failtd.aud will coutinue to toil until hur people
si d Ler rulers learn w hat her forum id stateMmau
has ttcoguiztd, that the unity of all go vent limit*
he devoted ad the |io«crs af hi* great mind and all
the impulses ol hu patriotic heart to the ro estab
lishment of that cordial respect and good fcullug
mat tut union aud i<csce.
The great and good do not die. Fourteen centu
ries ago tha head of the great apostle fell before
the sword of the bloody executioner, but through
It ng axis of opprcidon his example animated liu
pcrtcciucd church, and today stimulate* Its mis
sionary spirit to press on through tho rigors ot
every chmate and the darkness ol every heathen
>y*ttm, to tho universal and final triumph* of that
cross for which he died. Four centuries agone th •
body of John Wlckliiic wasexhutned and burnt to
asbts, and these east into the water, but "tho Avon
to tbe Severn runs, tho Severn to thu wa," and tbe
doctrines for which be died Cover and bless tin-
world. Haifa century ago the Itriug votes ol
U'Conuell was hurtled, but that voice today stir-
the high-born passions of ererr true lrl-U heart
throughout the world. Thu cohoes of FceuU**’*
eloquent voice still linger in thu valley of the
MlwbrippL BteckenridgeV liody Hus under th
ud oi Kt mucky, but ho itres among her sous, an
lnsplrstiou aud a glory.
Ai d today there cornea to us, and shall cornu to
honor. Give your richest ttensures and best effort-
to her material, social, intellectual and moral ad
rstnvmcnt until she shines the brtghied Jewel li
the dlactem of the republic.
hi* u of tne south, sons of the proud cavalier,
to.und together bv eoinmon tradition, un-morie-
ttidKimm.i t, sharers or a common gory aud
c« iu moii sufferings, utter lower your stanlard of
priVttte or public bonot. Keep tttu churc-
— Tupte * ~
Mir G—, —
.fuit* you. Citizens of the re
public, low your system of government, study aid
reiterate the constltuttoo, cherish tbe unloa, o>
pose all sectionalism, promote tbe weal and main
tain the honor of the rep-bUc "Wno saves hi*
counuy sere* himself, saves all things, and all
thlnt* savtd do birs* him; who lets his country
dir W ta all tbit gs die, dies t hlm-ajif ignobly, tad
MX. HA Vis IftTKDiilt'fcl).
Mr. Grady rose and In tho fuilowiug lan
guage introduced Mr. Davis:
"Had tho great man w lioso memory 1* porpo:-
uated lu this marble, chosen of all meu, ouo wit
nera to bis constancy, and his courage, ho would
have chocen tho honorable statesman w iwe pres
ence honors this platform today. Hud tho people
of Georgia chosen of all men one man today to
aid In iltls sscrcd duty, and, by the utemorle* that
Invest him«bout, to give deeper sanctity to their
work, they would have ohosen Jefferson Davis-
tint and last president oi tbc confederate state*.
It is good, sir (turning to Mr. Davis), for you to bs
here. Other leaders have had their triumphs.
Conquerors have won crowns, and honors have
been piled on tho victor* of earths great
battles, but never yet, sir, cam* mm
to more loving people. Never conq imor
wore prouder diadem than tho death
less love that crowns your «rey hairs today. Never
king, inhabited more splendid palace titan t ie
millions of brave hearts In which your dear na no
and fame are forevei ensbrlued. Speaking to yo i j
>lr, as the son of • confederate soldier who sealcJ,
his devotion with hts lito—holding kinship
through tbe priceless heritage of Ills bk>"> l to yon
and yours—standing midway between the thin*
nlPg ranks of hts old comrades, whose faltcrir..
footsteps are turned toward tbe grave, and
new generation thronging eagerly to tali
work that falls unfinished from their h
here in the auspicious Present, acroi?
the bktoric Pari salutes a
Future, 'let me pledge you
the love wc bear you shall be transmitted'
to our children, and onr childrens.children, and
that y« i«mi u> yet unborn »ball In this fair land
hold your memory sacred aud point with pride to
your lofty and stainless life. My countrymen (turn
ing to the crowd) let us te*aol» the lesson in this old
man’s life, that defeat hath its glories no less than
victory. Let us declare that this outcast from tht
privllfges of this great government is the un
crowned king of our people, and that noaouthern
man high or humble adesgreater glory than to bear
wltb bim heart to heart tbe Marne and thu burden
of tbe came for which be stand* unpardoued. In
dignity and honor ho n»-t tbe responsibilities of our
common cause. With dauntless courage ho faced
its charge*. In ob-curity and poverty
he has for twenty years borne tho
reproach of our enemies andpha obloquy of defeat.
This moment—in this bte.-ccd Faster week -that,
witnessing tbe resurrection o'tnese memories,thst
for twenty years have been buried lu onr heart*,
has given us the tori En ter we have aeuu since
Cbri-t was risen from the dead. This moment
finds its richest reward; in fact, thst we can light
with sunshine the shortening end of a path that
has long been dark and dreary. Goorglan*. coun
trymen, soldiers and sons of soldiers, and brave
women, the light and foul and crown of our civili
zation, rife and give your hearts voice, as wc tell
Jefferson Davis that he la at home among hts
people."
MR. DAVIS SPEAKS.
Amid tho most stupendous cliocrs Mr. Davis
advanced to tho edgo of the platform. IIo
•poke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: You have beeu. I bo*
Neve, generally apprised that no address was to
be expected from me. I came here to silently and
reverently witness the unveiling of this statue of
n y friend. I came as one who wanted to show
bis respect for a man who in victory or defeat waa
ever the same—brave, courageous and true. If!
were asked from Georgia’s history to name three
men who were fair tjpes«»l Georgians. I would take
Oglethorpe the bcnevolcut, Troup the dauntless
and Hill the faithful [Croat applause.] It Is
known to you generally, ii ha* been told to you
today what part ho took iu tho struggle
which Jias Ju>t passed. If it were expected of
mh )5 to ?P«»k. I should
feel that nothing could properly supplement tho
great oration* to which you have listened There
1* nothing to be added. It is complete. Hut thero
Is re meriting 1 may fay of my dead friend. If he
was the last to engage in the war betwoen tbe
states, he wea the la>t to give it up. If he did not
precipitate the controversy he stood by tho wreok
i four fortunes, and it wa* his voice that wa*
raized loudest and rang dearest for Georgia to
assert her sovereignty. When, under tbe power of
the couquering enemy—for they were still such—
when paralyzed by defeat aud poverty
our people seemed to shrink hack, hopelc*a of tho
future and despondent of the pout, h i wrote those
notes on the situation that first kin-lied thu fires of
hope In Georgia and elsewhere. Ilia voico rang
om and called the people to remember that their
csc«c was not lost: It was tho eternal cause of
truth and and Justice, and ho invoked Georgian*
to icr.cw the struggle in such form as has led to
the independence you now enjoy. Bat I dare not
speak of Hill personally From the beginning to
the end of the controversy no wa* one on whoso
shoulder I could place my band and feel
that its foundation wa* as firm as marble.
He had nothing to a«k. but be had much to
give, and when 1 was tho List from tbe south who
could excite auy expectation or benefit, it wa*
DUl whose voice rose triumphant lathe senate and
mashed the inj-nlous Yankee down. [Great
cheering 1 My friends, our* is the day of peso*
The friend whose memory we have met to nouor
taught us the lesson or pesce as well as resistance,
lie taught ns that it wastbrotign peaccfut methods
w e were to refrain our rights. We have trodden tha
tboi ny path and paswot over the worst part of tho
toad. Let us still remember fealty to every prom
ise we Lave given, but still let us love Georgia
and bar rights, and may her rights or freedom and
Independence, such a* your fathers gave you, bo
yow* and your children* forever.
As Mr. Davis concluded ho was led back to
his seat by Dr. Spalding, iritis tbo vast sea
of people sent up «-h«cr after cheer.
MR. DAVIS I.NTKOnUCCP.
While tl-e cl o- rs tha* followed tbe speech of
Mr. Davis were still ringing loudly, Mr,
Grady and pr. 8psidiog approached Miss
Davis and led her forward hufore the groat
crowd. Tho wildcat enthusiasm prevailed.
Hats flew in the air and the choeriug was like
thunder. Miss Davis autilt d aud bowed.
Dr. Spalding said:
"J» I* my pleasure to introduce to you the
daughter of tbe confederacy, tho daughter of
President Davis."
Again tbo crowd cheered, and after bowing
gracefully several t ines, ML-s Davis wa* led
dju J: to her chair.
Thcie were many
cries r< it Gordon,
hot the general did not reveal himself. Mr.
Grady i nnonnccf! that Mr. Davis wn* very
feeble, lie ennrioued the crowd not to attempt
to touch him but requested all to seo to it that
tbo ex-pnsident was allowed to
return quietly to Mrs. Hill's. Mr,
Davis waa then escorted around
tbe rdge of the platform so as to allow all to
are him. Ills appearance was greeted with
tLaf-uing chtvra.
Fioin the statue Mr. Davis went to Mrf.
llili’a aid letted quietly during the afternoon.
The crowd waa sometime in dispersing. Tho
exercises lasted a shade over two hours.
The Decorations,
Atlanta was a perfect sea of red, white and
blue.
Nearly every building on the principal
struts is toctily decorated.
At the entrance to the union passenger depot
a latgc banner to urs the inscription, "wel
come to Unr lllustrimi* Ex-President, JeflTer-
sen Davis." Around tn« banner great stream
ers of red, white and blue bunting fl rated.
Tbe work was ba»tily done, and was much
admind. At tbo baggage room tho
intiro front waa covered with banting and
flowers, at d l niter Mat- a fays. A 1-rj epic-
lure of JeffeTson Davts wa* suspended from
ore side, while lb-tort E Lee*s portrait could
lie seen on the other.
Mr. Davis and Party Leave for Savannah.
Mr. Davis and hs party left fur SavinnaH
Sunday morning. Seventy-five thousand pco-
plo gref tod thu ex-prcsldunt on tbe way with
enthusiastic demonstrations.
all thing* d> lup curse hlm^M
IlloMrioiw ciiirenoflhe*tate, of tbo math, of
the republic, ibou h*»ttsuah( u* to be bravo in
dans* r. to be true without the hope of success, to
Ur patt fa tic in oil thluco. We honor thee for thy
»s<rMw> eloquence, tor thr dauntivw courage, fur
thy forty pstiioctem. For the usefol lewsms tu tu
Eost taught n*. fur the honorable example thou
bast left us. for the faithrul -civic* thou hart done
i,, «, d-flicaie this statue to tby name and me n-
ii*. Tt lling of tb*e it shall animate the yoiog
wlffc the bizhrat and wortbtert aspirations for dts-
tii'Cil- n; ehcerthe sg» d with hopes for the future,
and»Ur net ton all iu tho perils that may await n*.
May Ii stand erdurtng as the f uudatlou* of p i-
drrrsrltol. no more flrarir UM I* the -i-th . .
tby Juit feme In the memories and hearts of this
1 -t-ple But whether tt wand pointing to tho gto
rit- of the pari, lurch to* m • itb hope- for tie fo>
tn*o or tail to-ferr some onfrifS'iy stum,
tbiuriatt lire, for we tbfe day. crown the* vl"-
tutor hot or than fiwum or **«are oa»
cti.fer. ’ll-til* rpsrlcur uropfe of tie fifj»z-
EX-PBESIDENT JEFFERS JN DAVIS.
-r