The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-04-29

avenue in Washington, under the eye Of
the President, there was not man whose
heart did not beat high with the proud
assurance that the cause which he had
fought for had been gained.
Not so with the veterans of the South.
They did not return as an army, for their
military organization was destroyed, but
in fragments, worn with the march and
the battle, having fought for years and
failed at last. They came back to the
old home perhaps to find it in ashes, or
desolate because of those who had gone
ont from it never to return. There was
such an exhaustion of the South that the
situation seemed almost hopeless. The
country was ruined Vast tracts had
been ravaged by hostile armies, and on
every hand there had been a degree Of
waste and destruction which it seemed az
if generations could not repair. But this
very depression only gave fresh opportu-
nifty to show the vitality and energy of
the southern people. Much as | admire
the courage OF your soldiers in the battle
field, admire still more their spirit when
they confronted this new trial. Facing
this desperate situation, the soldiers of
Lee and Stonewall Jackson laid aside
their weapons of war, and put their hardy
sincws to the labors of the field.
"And nobler still, if anything can be
nober, was the conduct of the matrons
and daughters of the South Even dur
ing the war there was a chivalrous feeling
towards them We knew how they suf-
tered. and it added to our own burden of
sorrow. Nearly forty years ago heard
Rufus Choate speak of the attitude Of The
ola Wing party towards the Mexican war,
and can hear now his rich voice as he
said, The wall ofthe daughters of Mexico
and Of America Is no music to their ear
So in the midst of our great agony, it was
only an aggravation to know that all
over this beautiful land of the South
there was mourning and lamentation-
Rachel weeping for her children, and
that could not be comforted because they
were not And when, after the war,
women of gentle birth, who had never
known anything but luxury, finding them
selves utterly impoverished, stopped to
mcuial services, such as before had been
performed by slaves, the feeling towards
them was one of enthusiasm All honor
to these heroic women, who, by their
courage and constancy, showed them
selves worthy to be the mothers of a
mighty race.
And now, thank God this cruel war
is over Peace has come, and come to
stay All over this broad land the sun
shines without a cloud. We are one peo-
pie, having one country. Had it been
otherwise, We OF the North should not
be here to dav: for We could not walk
these streets, feeling that we were aliens
from this part of the Commonwealth of
our American Israel. The change would
have Jared rudely on our religious as
we'll as Our patriotic associations. AS
i went on Sunday to hear your eloquent
preacher, Dr. Palmer, | could not have
joined IA tho Did family hymns if had
felt that | was in foreign country
Rather should have said with the Jews
IN i;Abyion, l,w can We sing the Lords
S"lg ia a strange land?' No: that was
noi to be. Underneath all our differences
there Was national feeling, which was
constant force, like gravitation, to bring
us Together. In that Fundamental law,
not of the Government, but of the great
American heart, we recognize the will of
the Almighty that the North and the
South should be no more twain but one
flesh and what God hath joined together
let not man put asundcr.'
We do not ask you to forget the past,
Us va certainly shall forget it. Cherish
the memory Of your heroic dead, and Wis
it their graves on Decoration Day to COW
cr them with flowers Such communion
with the dead is instructive to the living.
We cannot bring them back, but we can
learn the lesson which they teach and if
they could speak to US, can You doubt
that their one great request would be that
all bitterness and strife should be buried
in their graves?
"Spcaking to soldiers, to Confederate
officers, say to you what would say to
the distinguished officer of the United
States Army at my left, Follow your
leaders. Could there be a better guide
for us all--soldiers and civilians, North
and South-than to follow the counsels of
General Grant and General Lee? We
sit here tonight under the very shadow
of monument in the adjoining square
lofty as the Column Of Trajan at Rome,
on which stands colossal statue in
bronze of your great soldier. AZ you
pass it day by day, and look up and see
that majestic form outlined against the
sky, You remember him as he appeared in
the day of the battle. Will you not think
of him also when the battle was over
Great AS he was in war, he was greater in
peace, when, with his heart full of sorrow,
he retired to his quiet home in Lexington,
setting an example of moderation and
selt-control truly sublime, and trying to
calm the agitation of his suffering people
To the end OF his days he used all his
great influence for peace. DO not train
up your children in hostility to the Gov
ernment of the United States,' he said to
a mother who had been widowed by the
war, and who brought her son to him
to be educated. To these counsels OF
peace there is a touching response from
the death-chamber of our great soldier, as
he talked with General Buckner, speak,
ing most tenderly of the South, and ut
tered his dying wish for its full recovery
from all the disasters OF the war. Here
is lesson for us. If we cherish the spir-
it of General Grant, you can find no bet.
ter example than that Of General Lee.
"With the Union thus re-established
what future opens before our country
growing in population and wealth as never
before hear the tread of millions that
are coming to take possession of this val
ley. When this vision is fulfilled, then
may the sons of the Pilgrims to quote
the words of the great orator, Sargent S