The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-10-20
VIM. A. RUSSELL, Editor.

Sometimes the editor of the News
longs for the power of suitable selection
and an ability TO string words OF the
English language in such manner as TO
express thoughts artiStically in the gold
en- threads OF poeSy like his old friend,
Benz. w. Partridge of Monticello, adiu-
tant general and chief of staff of the
United Confederate Veterans of Florida.
But perhaps it is just as well, for il all
men were gifted poetic weaverS OF the
mother tongue there would be no one
TO get down TO the vernacular OF the
street and say come across" TO those
who have money but little or no Senti-
ment In another column of this paper
General Partridge makes an appeal to
the veterans and sons of veterans OF the
Confederacy for funds with which 10
erect a monument to the Florida Women
of the Confederacy. If you have not
done so, please read that appeal. Then
think of the cause Can you go back in
YOUR thoughts to the modest homes
scattered here and there over the PENN
suIa of Florida so years ago? If you can
not, let us help you. For years states
men representing all sections OF our
country had tried to settle in the arena
of debate vexed constitutional queS-
o ton. The statesmen of the South held
10 one view-thoSe of the North TO an
opposite. There were compromiSorS In
those days, too, but they as always when
a principle is involved, were failures.
Then came the war which lasted four
long years. And what war. No such
fighting had been seen on the earth be
fore, nor has there been since. The
total loss in killed, wounded and miss
ing at the battle of Antietam was 3S,36S;
at Charlottesville, 2S,311; at Chicka-
maugua, 80 ,655; at Gettysburg, 54,SO7; at
Shiloh, 24,272; at the Wilderness, %, 1857
besides score of other battles where
the losses totallcd all the way from 10,
600 TO 10000. Losses of WHAT Why
men. And each one of those men was
a father, son, brother, a husband to
some woman. Florida contributed OF
its men TO the Southern cause in Splen-
did proportion 10 its then meagre popu-
lation. Its noble, patriotic women,
broken and heavy-hearted over the abb
scncc and pcrlS of husband, father, son,
brother made their full sacrifice. And
what sacrifice! Now it is proposed TO
recognize that noble sacrifice OF these
women by erecting shaft to their
memory. The fulneSs OF time has ar
rived. Soon it will be too late. The
cause of the South is lost cause. The
survivors are rapidly passing. When
they are gone there will be no one to
take up the love work of lost cauSe-to
make appeal for recognition of the awful
sacrifices of the Confederate mother
and wife. The recent Florida lcgiSla.
ture appropriated 5000 for the monu-
mcnt. Veterans have subscribed $500
more. Much more is needed. Let
every veteran respond. Let every son
of veteran respond with thoughts OF
mother. Let every son of Florida who
is accustomed to unCoverin the presence
OF the queen of his own home pause in
the pursuit of business or pleasure and
give one moment of rcvcrential thought
TO the Florida queens of 50 years ago,
and then show appreciation for the aw-
full sacrifice they made by mailing a
contribution that will help to perpetuate
the memory of their deeds as a benefit
10 the generation now living and those
yet unborn.