The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-07-11


MES should be free and Independent
states" and thus believing, they is
sued TO the world that imperishable
document which we now know as the
Declaration OF independence" and
placing their trust In the creator of
the universe they struck the blow
for liberty, which after seven years
OF war gave to humanity this home
Q: the brave and land of the free, ="
and established IN the western hem
isphere the best government ever
seen upon the earth.
hat injustices have occurred under
our government; that wrongs have
been perpetrated. and that sometimes
the snip of state" has been steered
far from her Legitimate and proper
course, no man viii deny, but. my
friends, with all herr errors, with all
her faults, She is the best govern
meZt which God Almighty ever per
mitted to exist among men. When
ts--@H SONGl HiltCAt VI ES HHdIiN 0Std u
lished and the young republic start
ed out on its mission, many were the
predictions of failure. Self-goyern-
ment under q written constitution
vas the experiment to be tried and
the statesmen of the world watched
with deep interest every movement
affecting the interests of the new
government There was in the be-
ginning, and has been all through the
life of the republic TWO great politi-
cal parties contending for the mas
terry. One OF these parties has al
ways advocated a strong central gov
eminent with practically all power
lodged in the federal authorities,
while he other partys has strenuous
~ contended that each state should
pc sovereign and independent. and
that the central government could
nave no power except such as might
ne delegated TO it by the states, and
that no power should thus be dele
gated beyOnd such power as was es-
sential to enable it TO. deal with for
eign nations and to carry on the pur-
poses OF its creation. These contend
ing forces continued until finally the
right OF state to seeede from the
Union became the paramount issue
Between Them, and this right assert
ed upon the one hand and denied on
the other. produced the war between
The states. 1t is absolutely untrue
that the institution of African slav-
cry was cause OF that war; it was
merely an incident OF the war and
as stated by Mr.. Lincoln himself. the
proclamation freeing the negro
slaves was nor issued as an act of hu-
manity, nor was it issued because the
war was prosecuted to accomplish
the freedom Of the negro. bur it was
issued solely because the necessities
OF the war demanded it. Unable to
settle the question Of the right OF
state to secede from the Union in the
forum Of congressional debate. an ap-
peal was had TO arms, and for four
long years, the cruel fratricidal
struggle ragged while the civilized
world watching the titanic struggle.
wondered if the result would mean
he death of elf-goyernment among
men. Finally the issue was deter
mined by the stern arbitrament Of
war and that tribunal decreed that
his was AN indissoluble Union of
indestructible states" 1t is we'll.
As the son of a Confederate sol
der. looking back over nearly half
a century since the war ended. l can.
and do say. that it is best that we
have AN indissoluble Union of indie
structible states" so that govern
ment OF the people by the people,
for the people" shall no. perish from
the earth
As son of a Confederate soldier,
as son of the South, whose every
sentiment is Southern and whose life
is dedicated to the service of the
South, | am deeply gratifei with the
increasing interest shown throughout
the southland in the patriotic OBJ
servance of the nations birthday.
And why should not We of the South
glory in this day? This is our coun-
try. "Old Glory" is our flag. The
Fourth of July is our day We did
our part in establishing the govern
ment; We have done our part in nur-
turing it, and the best blood Of the
South spilled upon every field of
battle with a foreign foe eloquently
proclaims the story Of how we have
defended it,
When tnc "aak, struggling colo
mics were suffering the wrongs of
British rule. it was the eloquent
voice of Patrick Henry of Virginia