The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-04-30

record Of -four years Of warfare, q re-
cord which be had written upon The
pages Of AmeTican history with the fine
point Of the bay0net.
As General Lee said IN the last order
be ever issued 10 his soldiers, they could
20 20 their homes with the consciousness
Of duty well and faithfully performed.
Yet. what a prospect was that which
the Southern soldier facedY The hilla
and valleys Of the Southland were
rdged With graves Of his comrades. In
the beautiful and pathetic words Of
Grady. where he described the COnfed-
crate soldier az AppOmattOx, "he was
ragged. half-Htarved, and heavy heart
ed, enfeebled By want and wounds,
having fought TO exhaustion, he sur
renders his gun, Wrings the hands Of
comrades in silence and, lifting his tear
stained and pallid face for the last time
20 the graves that dot the old Virginia
hills, he pulls his gray cap down over
his brow and begins the slow and pain
ful journey homeward. "
As the fOOtsOre and weary soldier
turned his face sOuthward from Apo
mattOx in April, 1865, what did he findI
His home was destroyed, his fields we're
deaOiate, his government was over
thrown, and his former slaves were now
clamOrlng 20 be his lords and masters.
But with the same dauntless courage
with which he had faced death in battle,
he took up the burdens and Obligations
Of civic life. Aud how well he builded
we all know, for we have but 70 look at
the South today, the new South, the
great, growing, vigorous young giant,
10 see what he wrought.
Long years have passed since the
smoke drifJed from the last field Of
battle, and the lannon's lips grew cold.
On trampled fields where the battle
ragged, now wave the harvests OF golden
grain. and where the crimson tide Of
carnage flowed, the fields Of cotton lift
their white banners Of peace.
The South. which in 1865 was pros
trated and poverty stricken, today
stands In the forefront of the nation, no
longer downcast and poor, but rich and
strong and powerful, and destined as
the years 90 by 70 1ecOme still more
mighty.
In all this advancement the soldier Of
the South, no longer a soldier Of war,
but a soldier of peace, has played a no
bic part, and bequeathed TO US, the
children Of the New South, a "gOOdly
heritage"
In the years ttat have passed since
Death, with his scythe,
has been busy, and Of the brave hosts
which went forth TO battle. only hand
ful are left, and soon those, too, will
pass away.
Only a few more years and on Memo
rial Day we will no longer meet the
veteran with Whitened locks and feeble
step. Soon the conflicts Of the Civil
War will be but q memory, without liv
ing witnesses 70 attest TO the mighty
struggles; but memory which will be
TO Us an inspiration.
When In the busy rush of life and in
the presence Of great questions which
try mems souls, when, perchance, we
are tempted 20 turn from the right and
give up the battle for an ideal republic,
then can we think Of the men who wore
the gray, and who on countless fields
fought and died for what they believed
was right; and be inspired TO greater
and nobler deeds.
In the words Of an eminent states |
man: 81 have seen at midnight the |
cleaning headlight Of a giant locOmo-
live, rushing onward through the dark |
ness, needless Of danger and uncertain
~, and have thought the spectacle |
grand; | have seen the light come over
the eastern hills m glory, driving the |
aEy darkness, like mist before a sea
born gale, till leaf and tree and blade Of /
grass sparkled as myriad diamonds In /
The morning rays, and have thought
that IL was grand; | have seen the
lightning leap nc midnight athwart the
sky, shivering over chaotic
clouds, mid hOwliRg winds, till cloud /
and darkness and the shadow haunted /
earth flashed into midday splendor,
and have known that IL was grand. "
But the grandest vision that can be-
hold. next to the radiance that flows
from the Almighty's throne, is the bril-
liant picture pOrtraying the patriotism
)f the Confederate soldier, as that pa
.riotisln arose in It's morning Of glory
IN 1861, shined forth In ell the brilhancy
u It's midday splendor for a space OF
years, and then died in 1865. passed 10
ts setting OF gold, and took repose be-
heath the western hills-nOt TO be for
gotten, but TO be remembered, 10 be
lOnOred. to be cherished and perpetual
led by the gallant sons and the noble
Ind fair daughters Of our native South
and.
~.~--4~--e~-->~~~-------
In 1889 an act WAS passed by the leg
stature defining the boundaries Of CO.
umbia county. The boundaries as laid
Town in the act embraced all of Suwan-
nee county and repealed all laws in
conflict Herewith. SO. during all the
'ears since 1889 there has been no legal
Suwannee county in this State. II is