The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-05-26
THE WAR Is OVER

Laying down a volume containing
a speech delivered by Mr.. Benjamin
z. Butler in New York. in 1868, |
which, among other things. says:
u hold, by the laws of war, that ev
erything else they (the southern peo-
ple) had was at the mercy OF the con-
querer. They have claims TO mercy
and clemency; but no rights. Permit
me to state the method in which
their rights were defined By one gen
tleman Of my staff. He very coolly
paraphrased the Dred Scott decision,
and said they had no rights which
negro was bound 10 respect" and
then picking up an issue of the Times
Union, we find a letter from Presi-
dent Taft TO the Confederate Veter-
ans, in session AT Little Rock, Ark.
which follows:
White House, Washington. May Is,
1911.
ITO the Confederate Veterans who
are now assembled in Little Rock: 1
send heartiest greetings, and ex-
press the hope that they will have a
pleasant and successful reunion
The men of the Confederate army
fought for principle which they be-
lieved to be right, and for which they
were willing to sacrifice their lives,
their homes. in fact all those things
which men hold most dear AS we
recognize their heroic services. for
they and their descendants must hon
or the services rendered by the gal
for the preservation Of the Union.
The contending forces Of nearly half
century ago have given place to a
united north and south. and TO an en-
during union. in whose responsible
tiles and glorious destiny We equally
so gratefully share.
During my visits south il has graf
flied me greatly to see those who
fought for the blue and those who
fought for the gray mingle together,
worship the old flag and feel a com
mon pride in the deeds of heroism
that We're displayed in the civil war.
One OF the most pleasant incidents of
my visits through the south was the
evident desire on the part of its peo-
pie TO confirm 10 the world that we
are getting closer and closer togeth-
er.
Il congratulate the south on the
wonderful progress which it is now
making and on the spirit of civic
pride which it is displaying.
And then the following:
ITO President William Howard Taft: |
The United Confederate Veterans
Association. assembled at Little Rock,
Ark, in annual convention. repre-
senting the Confederate survivors OF
the war between the states, desire 10
express their appreciation of the
kindly telegram sent by you.
Viewed from either a personal or /
an official standpoint. it brings to the
association greatest pleasure. 1t
speaks volumes for the breadth and
generosity of the sentiments of the
American people now hold of the gil
gantic conflict of 1876. and the uni
versal recognition that the men of the
south fought for what they esteemed |
a great principle and which they
backed by unfaltering courage.
AS Confederates We cannot forget
the splendid sentiments which
prompted you while secretary of war
to set aside in Arlington cemetery a
lot for the burial of our deceased ocm-
rades who died in prison or fell in
the vicinity Of Washington. nor cani
we fail 10 think gratefully of your ap-
pointment of many of our distinguish
ed sons to high office In your asso-
citation with the southern people you
have already manifested spirit
which has won our esteem and which |
assures YOU of a welcome in the
southland of the most cordial kind
You can rest assured that the spirit |
and sentiment of your message are
fully appreciated by every living Con-
federate.''