The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-05-14
1t tie title d the formation ii his Is.


IT the title Of the formation Of his th;
greatest government known tc ofyfiiz-.
EioB, deriving all OF its powers from
D eoaseni ofshe gov rn 4. From The
i adoption o. the constitution in 1887
Thee. were Disputes az . he proper in
{ tv.preiation If that Instrument, and
es II the poaers of the general govern
'nent 'hereunde and as 70 the rights
:. served 70 ti.e states; ~ time adj
yalierd and aew capdiiipus would arise
tfssa iSpntes grew III intensity, lines
eeeame nere closely dra~l, aud fioally
Efforts r peaceful solution hav-
'ns fAilei, Fesprt seas had to the arbi-
'rameni OF the sword; and without
making individuous comparisons
truth and candor compel me to say,
and impartial history will record the
fact, that truer. Drawer, more patriotic
/ men never rallit under auy country s
Nag han those who fought under the
Stars and bars of TIE Southern Con-
federaey. They made gallant fight
against overwhelming odds both in
numbers and in resources, the Federal
forces having an army of over Two ana
one-half million men, while the South
ern had but little over half million
"Valor, heroism and bravery have
received just praise and recognition in
every age and cline from the fouuda
tion of the world to the present day.
and in obedience to this sentiment We
hind today the braves who wore the
Blne and the braves who wore the GRAY
jointly participating 10 memorial exer-
cise5 commemorative and perpetual
ing the memory of fallen heroes whom
they faced on the field of battle.
No country every Witnessed
grander spectacle, or greater triumph
OF the virtues of peace over the mad
ness Of war, than was presented in the
magnificent city of New York only
few days ago when the Blue and the
Gray Joined in doing honor to the
memory of the greatest of Union sol
diers, Gen. L. S. Grant; and right here
permit me to say that when we consid-
er the bitterness of feeling which pre-
vailed during that most memorable
struggle, history does not record more
rnagnanimity and greater generosity
than was displayed by General Grant
when our beloved leader surrendered
to him at Appomatox. BY the terms of
surrender all private property of Off
GERS and soldiers was to be retained.
and were even allowed to keep their
horses, as General Grant says, because
They will need them for work on their
farms Officers and men were at
once set free on parole with the under
standing that so long as they did not
violate their paroles nor break the
laws ;hey would not be disturbed by
the federal government.
THE terms were accepted in the ut
most good faith The settlement of
the grave issues had been submitted to
the arbitrament of the sword, South
ern honor, chivalry and heroism then
and there accepted the result as for
ever final. Our brave men returned to
their desolate homes, TO their martyred
wives. mothers, daughters and sisters,
whose prayers and ever willing help
ing hands had inspired and encouraged
them in the endurance of untold hard
ships and privations in the desperate
struggle for constitutional liberty in a
cause they believed to be right. From
that moment our brave soldiers re-
turned to their usual avocations, and
with a spirit undaunted by adverse cir
cumstances, commenced to repair the
ravages of war, to restore their farms,
rebuild their cities, revive theta COM
MERGE and put in motion their sus-
pended industries. They have in
every respect discharged the duties of
good and peaceful citizens with the
same energy, determination and per
severance that characterized their no
Bile conduct on the bloody field of bat
tie. And today your own fellow citi
gems, the survivors of that bloody and
terrific struggle, Gen. J. j. Dickson,
Gen Robert Bullock, Col. John N.
Martin, Judge S. F. Marshall, William
JefFords, Mr. F. Z. Harris, Mr.. Bailey.
and hundreds of others whose names
| caurot recall, together with the gray
haired veterans of the South all over
this broad land of ours will rally at
their country's call and defend the flag
of this Union against all enemies for
eigu or domestic with the same fidelity,
courage and bravery that characterized
their conduct in answering the call
of their state. We have but one flag
and one country and long may it wave
over 'The land of the free and the
home of the brave The flag of the
Southern Confederacy has been forever
laid to rest. In the language of the
patriot, poet, soldier-priest:
'Furl that banner softly. slowly;
Treat it gently, it is holy,
For it droops above the dead.
fpcuch If mot unfold III never