The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-10-20
THE PROPOSED MONUMENT TO
THE WOMEN OF THE SOUTH
ERIN coNFEpERAcY

the dead hopes of the Confederate
soldier.
To that magnificent incarnation of
carnage that has wrought miraculous
creation.
To the sons of the Confederate SOL
der, and the friends to the memory
of the cause that he once offered up
life and property to establish.
To the men of affairs of 1911-who
southland.
At a meeting of the Florida divis-
ion of United Confederate Veterans
held at Barlow, Fla, October 10Th,
1910-the question of erecting a mon
ument to the women of Florida who
wrought so Loyalty for the southern
Confederacy during the war. and
have done, and are still doing, so
much for the beloved cause, was dis
cussed. 1t resulted in creating a
board of trustees to take the matter
in hand. General William H. Jewell,
Rt. Rev. Edwin Gardner Weed and
this writer were chosen as monument
trustees.
General Jewell was most righteous
ly made chairman of this body. If l
were called upon to name one man
who has done more than all others
combined to arouse sentiment and
raise money, for this sacred cause, I
would not hesitate to point out Gen
eral Jewell and say: Behold the
man." With that spirit of dauntless
courage that made him a hero in bat
tie, half century ago, he has for
years fought this fight for proper
testimonial to our women of Florida.
With persistence that has laughed
at failure and a faith in success that
scorned Encouragement, he has been
an inspiration to those of us who
have lacked much of the grandeur of
this dear old mans personality
The trustees have striven to raise
sufficient sum to carry out the pur-
pose of the division to erect this wo-
mans monument. We had hoped to
secure subscriptions from the frag-
ment of veterans in our state suffi-
cient to accomplish our purpose. We
have done out utmost to call back the
men who, as battling aggregation
fifty years ago, were the wonder of
the world. Our success has been only
partial.
/. The legislature of our state, in
their session of 1911, responding to
an appeal of the trustees, appropriate
ed $4,000, to be supplemented by
similar sum, raised by the Confeder-
ate Veterans, for the purpose of
erecting a monument to the memory
of these noble women. Our division
has succeeded in raising about $25.
Young men, stalwart middle-aged
men, do you charge the Confederate
Veterans with shortcoming in not
raising more? If you do, look about
you at the fragment that still fingers
among you, and cease to wonder
Aged and decrepid now, for four
years these men fought for the home
of your mother and your grandmoth-
er, and returning to desolate homes
they have, in many instances, spent
their half century fighting the wolf
of poverty that snarled at the door.
God bless these old men, and in
the twilight of their few remaining
days give them place in the con-
Germ of the present generation.
And now l come to you, men of Ma
rion county, to ask your aid in a no.
BILE purpose. Not to ask aims, but to
claim the rights due to your mothers.
To offer you the privilege of doing
righteous act, and bestowing neg
lected, but richly deserved, honor.
We want your help. We want it
now. We need it and must have it,
or we fail. On the 25th of October
the division meets in Orlando, the
home of General Jewell-our annual
reunion for 1911. Old men will come
with trembling hope to ask these
trustees: What have you done to
honor the memory of the women who
stood by us in the 60's?" What can
we say to them? Shall we tell them
to wait another year? Can you feel
comfortable when you know that de-
lay must deny hundreds of these old
veterans the coveted joy of knowing
that this labor of love is accomplish
ed? The Grim Reaper is sweeping
them away, and soon they will cease
to be care to those whose activities
succeed them.
What do suggest? The only feas-
ible, rational, generous, manly thing
that is possible. Young men, get
busy. Don't say, "Oh! stuff" There