The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-08-05
APPRECIATES OCALA
Hon. ID. Robertson. Mayor

j.
Dear Sir: Every moment of my So
journ in your beautiful city and county
has been enjoyable. and so full of
interest. and you especially having
given me such excellent opportunities
for looking over this section, and not
ing too as l have. its wonderful prog
reSs and developments of less than a
quarter of century since my first
visit that | cannot go away without q
word of thankfulneSS TO you. and an
other, If | may, in which 10 give the
Impressions of the country my en-
| forcedly brief stay here has made
upon me.
If the heroes of the American Revo-
luton accomplished that. which if it
could be done gain. had certainly new
er been done before in the history of
the world by deliberately defying the
greatest world power and declaring
| that they would have liberty or death.
and made good" by establishing the
| country which has since become the
| recognized leader among all the ma
| tions in the great work and march of
universal civilization. so have the peo-
| ple--heroeS all--of the South evil
| denced everywhere that the hurriedly
passing throng may read-above the
! scars of war that devastated. and while
| her rivers We're chanting requiems to
| her precious dead, builded up their
| country to greatness and grandeur
that has broken the worlds record.
! Realizing this as | do. I go away, re-
| luctantly ending my vacation. from
your city and its hoSpitable people. re-
| joicing more than ever, If possible, and
| as every true American should, in this
| grandeur and glory that has come to
| Dixie. that flowery realm where birds
| can undisturbedly now and evermore
| build their nests in cannonS mouths.
| and where especially the developments
| of the past forty-five years have so
| grandly demonstrated that peace aft
| er victories no less renowned than
| war.
No one can rejoice more than / do
| that nothing now remains of the old
| Mason and Dixon" fence. not even the
post holes; that our swords and our
| bayonets have been sheathed in flow
| ers, and peace in her queenly robe OF
| white sits on the nations throne; that
| henceforth there can he no question.
but. that a. between our country and
any other the patriotism of all the
| people can be relied upon. and that
| from the clear skies His blessed finger
| points to a cemented Union. and His
| beneficent smile il spread all over the
| land where dwellS people the most
| pros perouS, enlightened, free and hap
py TO he found on this habitable globe.
| During my long previous Residence
in the South it was my pleasure. since
that great conflict. to grasp the hand
| Of those heroes who stood on the oppo-
site side of the battlefield with me. and
| recall with a memory which IL an
| ever living inspiration that was
| never the recipient of even discour-
tesy from any one who wore the gray.
| i am thankful to Almighty God that
have lived until this day. when hush
ed even TO echo are the diSsonant
voices of that war and eternally buried
are its bitter memories: lived too. To
see Federal and Confederate generals
marching side by side under the way
ing folds of "Old Glory" and to see
| Confederate generals mourning over
the deaths of generals of the Union
army.
| Why should not he at peace with
each other in this grandest country
under the sun. when at this moment
| in heaven dwell in perfect love and
| peace L. = Grant and Il. r.. Lee. w. T.
| sherman and Stonewan Jackson ana
tens of thousands of Americans who.
though they once looked askance at
each other from opposite battle lines
on the Potomac. the James and the
| Tennessee. are now on the same side
of the river keeping jubilee with
those old angels who 1900 years ago
came down to chant over Bethlehem
GLORY to God in the highest, peace on
earth and good Will to men:
Although | hope to come again to
see YOU, God sparing me. | leave with
your good people to enjoy for few
weeks longer the dearest | have in
this world: meanwhile may all
continue our unfinished work in build
ing up the land our valor sanctified.
and that our nation may continue to
be country of men and women who
bow to nothing but true manhood and
wOmanh God: Of men and women who
think more of liberty and peace and
their fellow men. than of all the kings,
| crowns and wealth of the world.
| Most Loyalty yours.
| George r. Loud.