The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-04-30
III Honor Of The
Confederate Dead


indeed, during All these years ne was
worthy son Of the great American re-
public, winning for himself the esteem
1nd affection Of bis comrades, and the
admiratiOn Of his fellows throughout
The land.
But he was a ViFginian, he was one
Of the South's noblemen. He loved the
Stars and Stripes he cherished the
friendship and association Of his com
rades IN the Union army, bat the hour
Of decision came upon him. He stood
facing the invitation 10 ascend 10 the
command Of the entire United States
army, on 30 prove loyal 20 the home Of
his birth, the home OF his childhood and
bis illustFiOus fOrefathers.
Well do We know with what courage
he responded 10 duty and the call Of ma.
tive land. We well know with what
plaudits he was received in Richmond IN
the early COS, when he returned 10 Old
Dominion, 20 take up the defense Of ma
tive land and the esteem in which he
has been held BY every true son Of the
South since his gallant surrender at
AppOmattOX, nearly half century ago.
What q true picture Of General Lee
was that painted IN the brilliant words
Of BENJAMIN n. Hill, when he said
''He was q foe without hate, friend
without treacheFy, q soldier without
cruelty, q victor without oppression,
and victim without murmuring. He
was q public officer without wee, pri-
Vate citizen without wrong, neighb0r
without repTOach, q citizen without by
pOerisy, and q man without guile. He
was Caesar without his ambition q
Frederick without his tyranny; NaDO-
leon without his BelhshneBs, and Wash
lngton without his reward. He Was as
obedient % authority as n servant, and
81 royal In authority 90 a true king. -
Every nation boasts Of the deeds OF
Valor performed by their soldiers, but
no nation has q greater right 20 boast
OF its soldiers and their deeds than has
the American republic, and II IL the
proud heritage Of che young manhood
and the fair daughters Of the present
generation that the braVest deeds OF
American history were performed by
soldiers Of the Southland.
The phalanXes Of Alexander, the le-
giOns Of Caesar, the Old Guard Of Ma
poleOn, we're brave and heroic men, but
che soldiers Of the South on an hundred
fields OF battle showed the world that
they were brave and more heroic than
the men who had made the history Of
Greece and Rome and France what II
II.
Where IN all the history Of the world
will you find such carnage a. ~ Chicka-
mauga, Cold HarbOr, Gettysburg and
the Wilderness And then remember
that the men who endured that awful
Inferno Of battle, without WRverinR or
yielding until crushed by superior num-
bers, were men Of America, were sol
diers Of the Southern Confederacy
Two forces united 10 form this great
republic, the Puritan and the Cavalier.
TO the rich and beautiful coast of Vir-
gsnia, bright with lie yOrdurO and few
srs, came the Cavalier, light. hearted, !
gay and daring. The song of the birds
and the perfume Of the wild rose upon |
the hilltOps and the pure white lilly Of J
the valleys greeted him, and all nature /
seemed 10 rejoice that he had found |
new home In this wilderness Of beauty. |
To the bleak and rock bound coast of |
New England camo the Puritan, stern. |
faced and courageous, and standing |
upon that rugged shore, with the angry |
roar Of the pillows a. his back, he faced |
q savage land and still more savage
men.
The only song that greeted him was
the Titan song Of the storm wind, and
instead Of the perfume Of the rose and
the greetings OF the pure white lilly, he |
found only the fragrance OF the pine.
Following the early settlement Of tho |
Pilgrims, time passed rapidly In is
flight, and soon Puritan and Cavalier, |
side BY side, the one with the bravery |
and daring Of the men who followed |
gay Prince Rupert, the other with the
incorporating and unflinching cOur.
age OF Oliver CrOmw0ll's irOnsidea, /
mingled their blood on the fields Of the |
Revolution and laid the foundation Of |
the greatest Republic on the globe
A few years more and Puritan and |
Cavalier once more, side by aide, faced
the red banner Of England and once
more defeated her.
A few years more and Puritan and
Cavalier on far OF Mexican battlefield
upheld the honor Of the American Re
public.
And then but a span OF years, and
Puritan and Cavalier were on the field
Of battle, no longer side by side, but
facing each other In the blOOdiest war
the world has ever seen, conflict that
staggered humanity"
Deeds Of bravery have been per.
formed by the soldiers Of every nation.
Ancient Greece had her immortal three
hundred who died In the rocky pass Of
Thermopylae Rome had her invineible
legiona whose proud boast u was that
They had never turned their backs upon
q foe and France had her Old Guard,
n - 1
render bat when the Cavalier and
n,.rit-., k.tk i,,,~p- a. IfI,nrft MT Ia