The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-10-23
in APOLOGY AND APPRECIATION

1 OH SEEK 10 uidhc IL appear th~t =
am chronic kicker"
| We have very carefully re-read our
reply to our friends first article ana
fail to find in it a single reference, so
| far as it appears to us, that is capa'
BILE of bearing any such construction
or Interpretation. But be that as II
may, we want it distinctly under
stood that if anything we may have
! said, either directly or indirectly, or
by implication that can be twisted
into any such Interpretation, we here
and now hasten to correct it.
Instead of being a kicker" or a
'knocker,' it affords us great pleasure
to say that Mr.. Burford is entitled to
no such derisive reference.
The editor of this paper is glad o.
the opportunity of saying in this pub
| lie manner that of all the men he has
ever known, either casually or init.
| mately, he holds none in so high es.
TEEN. For the thirty years or more
| that he has known Mr.. Burford he has
found him strong and conscientious in
his convictions and answering i'm his
| friendships. In his obligations to his
friends and to the public the needle is
not more true to the POLE
If our right hand offended in apply
ing to him any terms of opprobrium
or reproach, even in the mildest
form, we would not hesitate to follow
the scriptural injunction and cut Il
off; if our right eye offended ever so
mildly in parading him in false col
ors, we would pluck it out.
AS we have often done before, we
again reiterate that we think none
the less of friend because he may
differ from our views on any question
of public moment. Indeed we wish
that every press and pulpit in the
land would take for text the follow.
ing extract from Mr.. Burford's last
article:
II have often thought il a wise pro
vision of Providence that all men do
not at all times think alike, for from
diversity of views, careful thought
and investigation are inspired, and
the correct action will more likely re-
suit"
We subscribe to that proposition i'm
toto. When friends and neighbors
differ in opinion we wish it Were pos
sible for them to think that one, the
same as the other, is just as sincere
and conscientious, and in carrying out
these differences to a conclusion, we
wish it were possible for them to do
so without the shadow or suspicion of
molestation from others, either in
thought or by some overt act.
We wish it were so in fact as il Is
in theory that in this land of ours ev-
cry human creature were invested
with the privilege of worshipping God
under his own vine and fig tree, ac-
cording to the dictates of his own con
science, at all times giving full ex.
preston to his views on all questions
affecting the welfare of the common
wealth.
If we had it in our power we would
not only let everyone act according
to the dictates of his conscience in
civic and political matters, but we
would let the same rule apply to all
religious matters.
We would have the members of all
churches to live together on terms of
good fellowship.
We would do away with religious
intolerance.
We would not have one denomina-
ton casting stones at some other de-
nomination. We would have it on
earth "as it is in heaven"
We cannot be made to believe that
there are UNCONVENTIONAL disputes
around the throne of God.
We can but believe that political
oppression and religious intolerance
have been largely the cause OF most
of the wars and woes that human be-
ings have been heir to; that to them
we are indebted for the war spirit
which has made war possible in both
hemisvheres, that is now deluging
them in carnival of blood and lust
and shame.
We believe that the application Of
Mr.. Burford's thesis would open wild
er the doors to civic and religious
righteousness, and the world would
be all the better for it.
We wish at least that it would find
universal application in our own coun-
try. and more especially in our own
community.
We want our friends to feel that
the columns of the Ocala Banner are
always open to them, whether they