The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-05-01
DR.. Samuel M. Tucker,
Speaker of the Day, Points
Out Great Lesson.
DAWN OF PEACE" RISING FROM
THE STRIFE OF FIFTY YEARS
AGO WAS KEYNOTE OF HIS ORA
TIoN-cROSSES OF HONOR CON-
FERREO ON SEVERAL VET
GRAMS.
Special to The journal.

Tallahassee. April 3O--The pre-
viOusly arranged program for me-
mortal day in Tallahassee was neceS-
sarily altered by the threatening state
of the weather. nevertheless large
crowd assembled at IN hall OF repre-
sntatives to hear the address given
by Samuel VI. Tucker. Pm. D.. teacher
of English at the Florida State Col
lege for Women.
DR. TUCKER is a student of excep-
tiOnal attainments, and Is known
throughout the United States as an
English teacher of the highest order
His Introduction TO Byron's poems
forms a standard work in the school
and college libraries, and his arrange
ment of the course pursued this year
with his junior class on the subject
of the drama. ancient and modern. has
received encOmiumS from the highest
authorities in America. On several
previous occasions DR.. Tucker mas ap-
peared before Tallahassee audience
and has won from them gnstinted
praise for the intelligent handling of
his subjects, the beauty and purity Of
his dictiOn, and the pleasing grace of
his manner. Consequently, it required
no great gift of prophecy 10 foretell
that the weather would have slight
on memorial day. Chairs, desks. win
dow lodges all, We're brought into
reQuisitiOn for the accommodation Of
the crowd while in the rear of the
hall every available foot of space was
occupied by those who stood through
the entire program.
promptly al five O'Clock the service
began. opened by an invocation by The
Rev. VIM VI. Zeigler. pastor OF the
Presbyterian church. This was fol
lowed by the singing Of the hymn.
Onward Christian Soldiers by the
audience Then came the intrCduc-
tiOn Of the speaker. in few eloquent
sentences by G.. Talbot Nhitefeld,
p. A. 50
DR.. fuckers speech was extempore,
so. unfortunately, it cannot he given
here in full. but the following is Il
synopsis. which. though lacking the
Twin gfOrce OF his spoken UIjerances,
will, nevertheless, give some idea of
the unique manner in which he han
died his subject:
DR.. fuckers Speech.
Veterans of the Thompson p. Lamar
Camp Daughters of the Confeder-
acy. and other Friends:
You will be patient with me today
if leave somewhat the beaten track
that is eloquent and just has been
said in praise of the heroic deed: We
are all so we'll agreed in our common
estimate of their virtues. in our COM
mon conviction that they fought and
died for what they thought right: we
all so rejoice in the high traditions
and tender memories that they have
left TO us. that no word ] could speak
would add 10 the lustre of their Ian
rels. Let the brief and simple mes
sage I bring. which you will perhaps
call a tWice-tOld tale. state some old
truths simply, and speed straight from
my heart to yours.
"A little less than fifty years ago.
all over this country Of the United
States. even the most conservative
and right-thinbing men found il neces-
sary. every other esource exhausted.
to resort to arms in defense of what
they considered right. From north
and south. from east and west. they
gathered to fight for principle. The
most terrible of conflicts followed-thC
strife of brother against brother Each
stood astOnished at the herOism of
the other. AstOniShed-and delighted.
for who would have his brother 4
coward Four years of war showed
the world the American spirit and
dissOluble the tie that bound Us to-
gether. Great fighters came forth.
great deeds were done. heroic tradi-
lions were created that cannot die.
except with the death of the hest in
the human spirit The issue? The
southern states lost their cause under
the very aTbitrament 70 which they
had voluntarily submitted themselves
that of force. But they displayed
even more nobility in their acceptance
of defeat than they had shown on the
battlefield. for they turned TO build up
a new south and a nObler.
Very many who fought in that war
fell there and sleep in namelass
Many. again. survived \ few and
yet how few. are with us still. Some
are before me this day
&c How fast has brother followed
brother
From sunlight 10 the sunless land
IN memory of those who fell or
who have since passed away, this
memorial dav has been established-a
day of memories high and holy. in
deed. of praise of the dead, yet OF
hope and cheer to the living. soldiers.
North and SOuth-here a little
earlier. there little later--we gather
IN honor true herois1n. to declare our
faith in principle This is no day OF
prejudice. of bitterness. That has
happily passed away We are not
here 10 sing warsongS. 10 utter SEN
timentS of hatred We are all one
now Heroes there were both north
and south. Goodness, truth. fidelity
10 the right. were the monopoly of
no one section; and wherever men
fought for what they looked upon as
Great Truths.
Il am a southern man. and. today
| feel in my heart OF hearts that We
all recognize certain great truths
recognize them TOO clearly 70 harboT
az this day any sentiments but those