The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-05-26
OSCEOLA

(Oration delivered by Paul Dyess
Weathers at the commencement exer-
cises of the Ocala High School, Fri
day evening, May 10, 1911, at Temple
Theater.)
Under the spreading trees OF our for
|ests, once tribes of red men roamed.
When, how and in what state they
came to the American continent, we do
not know. In their happy, savage
state, generation after generation lived
without making any material progress.
Happy l say, for why should they not
be happy? Their minds were free from
the cares of busy world their hearts
knew no fear They were "monarchs
of all they surveyed" and might roam
whittier they wished, unless restrain
ed by some hostile tribe.
AS in other uncivilized countries,
these American Indians lived a con-
tented, simple life. They knew nothing
of farming, mining or manufacturing
in an advanced stage, but spent their
time making, in their rude way, the
few necessities of life. Such was the
condition of the American Indians
when the great discoverer of America
and his follows first came to this coun-
try.
Little did the Indians realize when
they saw the first white man step from
his strange ship that peace and safety
for them. were now at an end. Dur
ing the first two hundred years fol-
lowing the discovery of America, Eng
land, France and Spain strove with
one another in Selling this new land.
n M N cr1ich
often disputes between the whites and
the Indians. In the Spanish settlements,
the Indians were often murdered This
condition of affairs could not long ex-
list, either the whites must abandon the
country or the Indians must be driven
back. The strife continued in the col
onies until they proclaimed themselves
"a free and Independent nation"
The Indians then lived in peace un-
| til our country spread towards the
west They must again seek a new
home. And where should this new
home be? The government would not
permit them to longer roam whittier
they wished, but sent them to reser-
vations. The Indians everywhere. and
Especially the Seminoles in Florida, OPP
posed this plan.
| In the war which followed the re-
sistance of the Semnoles, sad and hor-
rible deeds were committed both by the
Indians and by the writes. Indians
were attacked at every opportunity;
whites were murdered and their homes
burned. Yet, there was one Indian in
| this war who received more than his
share of grief. That man was Osceola
| This son of Creek woman and white
trader fed to Florida from Georgia at
the time when Andrew Jackson broke
the power of the Creek Indians From
| that time until his death, he lived the
| typical life of a Seminole. He grew
up in the company of boys who looked
on him as a leader, thus giving him
confidence in himself which made him
so dreaded man in the Seminole war.
Not only this, but he had been taught
from youth to hate the white man.
Although he was practically I'M
known when the war began, he soon
showed to, his people that he was not
ia common Indian. but one that pos
sessed all those characteristics which
make up the life of singularly brave
man. They looked with admiration at
that brave figure as he stood before
cause of the Indians. They recognized
him as leader when he exclaimed that
he would never make peace with the
whites. They followed him on the war
path and at his command even willing
ly offered themselves to certain death
1t seems strange to us that a man
born amid savage surroundings, having
no education and having never been
taught any difference between right
and wrong could have a heart filled
with love and pity. Yet. Osceola, dur
ing his entire life as a warrior, shows
these traits of character. On the war
path, he always spared the lives of
women and children. 1T is not upon
them that We draw the scalping knife,
out upon men. Let us act like men,"
vas MS erde-. Even waen tie path of
rs a..o.t.cA grew dark and dreary;