The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-12-14


grave Of OF her gifted and honored men, Thu
kindly expressions the Northern papers after his death
exhibited manly spirit Honest differences Of opinion
on great questions furnish grounds for hate and
calumny. Generally those men who achieve brilliant
outward win the admiration Of the world and
seize the gittering prizes OF honor bu. tonight cal
your attention to whose public eliminated In
disaster and defeat. One whose suddenly sunk in
darkness. honored by his compatrios in misfortune
Respected by his enemies aud embaned in the hearts
and memories of his people
Afisiides surnanled 1.-THE Just = banished from
Athens by his government. Themistoces, tie great
Athenian leader and general the hero of Saams
tracsed by his countrymen. And after the battle oil
Sedan aud the defeat Of the Frerch, in the late Franco
German war; the Parislans made the element resound
with their wild cries camored for the blood of then
emperor But we CT the rising generation of the South
stand here tonight, my counymen, under the impulse
of spontaneous oTe render tribute of honor TO the
fallen leader of the Southern Confederacy
Mr. Davis representative man in more than one
respect He type of Southern character and illus
trated the special features of Southern chivalry.
We often find in nations individuals who embody
national characteristics Our leader the imperson-
cation OF Southern manhood Southern refinement and
gentity Besides he is endeared by the that
the only of heroes who had to submit to the
horrors and insults of Incarceration. Charged with
treason he bound with iron letters in dungeon
two long years. to which i'll treatment he submitted with
patience and fortitude
Thank God, he now sleeps in peace and his proud
spirit longer bows under the burden of his peoples
Woes.
In view of all these considerations surely natural
and honorable in to give public expressions of
sorrow There be aged marons here who have hus-
bands and who lie moulding in distant battle
field beloved and rendered forever precious by their
blood, chasened by their grefs and msforunes
bly, bowling fore the DEGREES of high heaven. We are
here in spirit of antagonism to country.
The result of the has established the authority
United States government.
The Union will stand; Let it stand forever From the
Atlantic to the Pacific from the cold bleak region of the
North to the SOFT sunny CLINE of the South let the flag
the Union float. May stars illuminate its fields and
may they shine in increasing lustre.
Noble the words of Cicero when he tells us that
ut is the first and fundamental law of history
should neither dare say anything that false fear to
say anything that true give any just suspicion
favor disaffection.n
No less higher standard must be invoked in considering
the e character and services of jefferson Davis great
man of great effort whose is blended with the
renown of American Arms and with the civic gories of
the cabinet and the congressional hals-a the
South who became the head of the Confederacy more
popuous and extensive than that for which Jefferson
wrote the Declaration of Independence and the COM
of armies many times greater than those
OF Washington. He swayed senates and lead soldiers of
the Union, and stood accused of treason in court OF
justice.
He saw victories sweep ilustrous battle-fieds and
became captive; he rallied millions and was put in
chans he created nations followed its bier he wrote
its epitaph he died DISTINGUISHED Citizen but though
great in all the vcstudes and trials; he greatest in
that fortune which lifting him first the Hottest height
and casting him thence into the depths of disappointment
found him constant friend of truth He conquered
himself and fogave his enemies but he bent to none but
Cod No public subjected to ordeals
of character closer scrutiny of conduct He was under
public for nearly half century, and in the which
at last overwhelmed the Southern Confederacy and its
PRESIDENT its official records and private papers fell
the hands OF the enemy weary have searched the
records to see If he had overspped the bounds which the
laws of war bad set to action and could such evidence
found wrahul hearts would have cried for vengeance
But though every hiding place open and reward was
ready for any who would beay the secrets of the captive
chief whose armies scattered and whose hands were
chained Though the up its daad in CONFUSION
of its country there could be found guilty facts and
cusing tongues were silent"
whatever record leaped to light his name could not
be shamed y
Mr. Davis life also illustrates his advocacy of Chris
taniy and shows that hewas ouspoken on the subject
evangelical religion. His frequent thanksgiving and
feasday procamatons breathe the spirit of deyout pty
which had its influence upon the people He continuously
acknowledged the supremacy of living God who turns
The hearts of kings as streams of water are turned
Code blessings invoked and his favor sought in
the couses of the nation Not only in his official char
acer but in his private life he chose Jesus Christ as his
counsel and the guide of his life.
The virtues which shone in his character were but the
pie reflections or that uncreated light which shines
efflble efulgence in the person of the Son Of God
- Amid the changes going around him he had the
blessed consciousness that he belonged kingdom that
could not be moved full of meaning you u.s.
DISTINGUISHED, he rtjoiced that his citizenship was in
Heaven.
No army went forth with larger proportion of
earnest Christian among its high officers than the
army of the South The world has furnished nobler
specimens of the Christian soldier than Robert Lee and
S'onewall Jackson who were as remarkable for their
devout spirit and vital goodness they military
genius and skill
Time fails me to mention the large number of Christian
generals our list.
Very few of our great and influential men who figured
in the great struggle remain Like autumn leaves they
have been dropping in the by one rapid
cesson, and the few who survive will go down.
Let not forget the noble the brave the true men,
who did not value their lives dear themselves that they
might rescue what they considered the great cause of
tituona liberty. Let tenderly cherish their memory
and hand down to the generations to the record of
their devotions.
Let us cherish the name of great leader who has
gone TO join the immortal heroes high Inspired with