The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-11-23
The Unifcation of the Sections His
Constant Theme and Always has a
Good Word to say for His
Brother in GRAY.

OtOtuoI III 0tdJ.
Captain John III. Welsh, whose good
looks is only exceeded by his sweet
amiability of temper, bigness of heart
and sympathy of soul, all of which
virtues may be detected not by study,
but by a simple glance at his kindly
face, which adorns this article, has re-
Gently had printed in pamphlet form
the proceedings of the g. A. r. En-
campment of the Department of Flor
ida held in Ocala in 1892.
This pamphlet contains the account
of the trip to Detroit, the magnificent
display of fruits, flowers, moses, ferns,
and palms, woods, phosphates, ard
other products of the field and forests
of Florida, which captivated, aston
ished and bewildered the thousands
who witnessed it, and to all was won
derful revelation of the products, re.
sources and possibilities of the state.
1t also contains the generous welcome
accorded the Florida G.. A. r. Post
and contingent of Floridians; Capt
Welsh's appropriate speech in re-
spouse to the special, pointed, warm
and eloquent welcome; the notices
from the newspapers, all speaking in
wild admiration of the beautiful Flor
ida display and the enterprise and
progress of her citizens and the full
official proceedings of the Encamp-
ment both at Ocala aud Detroit.
This little pamphlet will be sent to
every G. A. r. encampment in the
United States official notice will be
taken of it by each army post, and il
will be brought to the attention OF
thousands and do ali abundance OF
good in many ways. The spirit oil
fraternity that breathes in every Tine
must help bring about kinder, a Bet
ter, more tolerant, and a more gen.
uine and generous opinion of those
and for those on both sides the bitter
sectional chasm that divided our pe0-
pie and was productive of such hurt.
full misunderstanding between them,
and one of the objects of this pamphlet
is not only to bridge over but to entire.
ly obliterate every vestige of that
hateful and hellish chasm.
We make the following quotation
from it:
am in receipt of the following recent official
action by the ex-confederate Camp at Monticel
10, Florida
Before the Camp proceeded to regular bust
ness at p. m, and soon after recalling the Camp
to attention, Commander w. Capers Bird (now
dead) said:
COMRADES I'VE recognize the fact that the
war is over. The south fought for separate
government, not in enmity to our brothers of the
north, but for what we, at the time, thought te
be the safety and stability of our social and pc
iitica institutions. But the God of Battles has
settled the issue, and we bow honestly and can
didly to the result. Hereafter we shall have one
people, one flag one destiny, one country. The
north fought for the union, and won. We hal
the old Federal soldiers as brothers, as men who
were worthy our steel in the hour of battle.
regret that some of those who wore the blue are
not with us to-day in reunion which would
testify our appreciation of their valor and gen
erosity, and of the fact that we are once more
an indissoluble Union of indestructible States
To which Captain Welsh made the
following eloquent and patriotic re-
ply:
Colonel W Cdpers Birdi
DEAR SIR After reading your elegant address.
to the Confederate Camp, of Monticello, which
you have the honor to command said Solomon
himself was not wiser, nor was Cicero, wher
pleading with his countrymen for unity more
eloquently patriotic.
Thirteen years ago, after spending a winter in
the south, said the soldier of the south is to
day truly loyal, and should the old flag become
endangered he would be found fighting as gal
iantly in its defense as he fought for the Confed
eracy.', have since seen no reason to change
| the views then expressed.
Your declaration "henceforth we shall have one
people, one flag, one destiny, one country,
| unanimously endorsed by your camp, dispels tn.
mist and the rain of quarter of a century.
From our dead foeman comes no Gliding forth
We live at peace. Heaven has no SOUTH no north
With roots of trees and flower and fern ane
heather,
God reaches down and clasps our hands to
gether."
| Kindly convey to your camp the best wishes o
Union soldier whose fondest desire is a perfec
union