The Osceola times., 1877-06-23

to you, to lie for awhile your foes. For
them, too, let the flowers of your SYM
patby, your compassion, your generous
affection be shed. They, too, were your
brothers. They, too, were citizens OF
the republic. They, too, believed that
they were in the right, and that their
cause was the cause of justice and free.
dom. Submitted to the stern arbitra-
ment of war, the issue has been decided
against them. They met their doom,
and there they lie in death. But time
is merciful, IL considers circumstances
makes allowance for motives, mitigates
the sentence and strips il of dishonor.
There is great virtue in time. II heals
many wound, dries many tear, and
teaches men the blessed lesson of forgive
ness. Time has quenched all The fire of
ancient anger. The common sense, the
magnanimity, the instructive statesman
ship of the people have recovered their
sway, and reconciliation, long delayed,
is now not only virtue, il has become a
necessity. The horrid nightmare, the
dark fever of strife and struggle, with
all their bitter memories have vanished
in the returning light of day, and all
men, north, south, east, and west, have
awakened to the consciousness that we
are all one in destiny, united in JOY or in
sorrow, for triumph or defeat; one in
language, in culture, in tradition and
structure Of law, and that the blow
which strikes one section, one class, one
race, one city, one village or hamlet in
the lan1 sends the shock vibrating
through IL all.
Take, then, that palmetto tree, and set
IL, with all reverence, on the confederate
soldiers grave. He lived where it grew.
He was, ! doubt not, brave and faith
ful man, loyal TO the cause he loved and
which he believed was worthy Of his
love. May the tree grow and flourish
and spread far its bounteous shade. And
so, rich in its elevating, purifying, and
ennobling influences, let this day OF com
memoration be passed through all the
land. May no word be spoken that could
arouse ancient unkindness, or stir the
embers OF an angry thought.
The soldiers, by whose groves we
stand, had little anger in their hearts.
have been told, that in the midst of bat
| tIt' III tie very neat duu iiIt vi GUILTY.,
federal and confederate soldiers have
been known to pause for awhile by mu-
tual consent, lay down their arms, drink
at the same brook, out of the same cup,
exchange friendly courtesies, and, for the
time forget the deadly work which but a
few moments before had set them in arms
against one another. Could it be that
we, after sixteen long years of peace,
have tailed to acquire the same mag
nanimity which they, in the short
breathing times of battle, were used to
display? The experience of all lite
teaches us no worther lesson than the
wisdem of forgiveness, Look there on
the graves, and receive the silent admo-
milton of death There at last, the
soldier of the north and the soldier OF
the south are comrades, and sleep side
by side, On their graves falls the same
sunlight. They are wet by the same
dew, covered now by the same yerdue,
clothed in winter by the same mantle OF
snow. Their battle is all over; their
life's campaign is done, and with equal
fervor and devotion we pray for them
all: May they rest in peace"