The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-05-25

1Cf VI oA Has Adlit dcTOsS IaNU ana
sea; a man whose will was feared as
destiny. a man who broke down the
barriers of the Alps and made them
a highway; man whose fame was
spread beyond the boundaries of civ
ilization 20 the steppes Of the Cos
sack and the deserts OF the Arabs.
That he did much evil there is little
doubt; that he has been the origin
of much good, there is just as little
Through his means$ intentional or
not, Spain, Portugal and France
have risen TO the blessings of free
constitutions and the feudal system
with its whole train of tyrannic
satellites, has fed forever Kings
may learn from him that their safest
study is the welfare OF the people;
and the people are taught by him
that there is no despotism so stupen-
dous against which they have no re-
course.
When the Mayfower departed
from European shore she took
thence the seed, which transplanted
destined to grow and ripen into the
greatest liberty-loving nation of the
universe. From these colonies-col-
onies planted in poverty and taxa
many years-came forth some of the
greatest men the world has ever
produced; men who were born poor,
who had many obstacles to sur
these difficulties, by their bold and
ceaseless work raised the name of
their country from the depths of in
significance and obscurity to a po-
sition honored by every nation in the
world
In that proud circle of great war
riors and great civilians who illumi-
mated the history of the United
States, none should stand in brighter
light than the diplomats of the Rev.
olution. The life of Benjamin Frank
lin is one of the most extraordinary
instances on record of what can be
accomplished by study, resolution
and a conscientious nurture of the
faculties. He was born in a humble
sphere; he began his career as an ap-
prentice; he mastered almost all
branches of knowledge, aided alone
by his own perseverance and deter
animation; he rose to become the ar
bitter of nations; the champion of
sovereigns; ascending step by step
from the humble printers shop to
these exalted positions. While
Washington was fighting our battles
for us at home, Franklin was abroad
securing funds, negotiating treaties,
obtaining loans, and otherwise ad-,
vancing the cause of American
independence. AS philosopher his
fame spread to the uttermost ends
of the earth; as diplomat he re-
ceived a hearing in the most polished
court of Europe, and successfully
conducted the affairs of his country
through perplexities and difficulties
of the most trying kinds; and as a
patriot he gained the love and ad
miration of all virtuous and honor
able men.
Just as George Washington was
the hero of the first struggle with
Great Britain for American indie
pendence, so was the back woods
man, Andrew Jackson the hero of
the second struggle fought for the
same cause. He learned to read and
write in log cabin school house in
the piny woods of North Carolina;
and the first great political truth
that reached his heart was that all
men are free and equal" The first
great fact that beamed on his under
standing was his country's independ-
ence As a boy of thirteen he wit
messed the scenes and horrors that
accompany war and when but a year
older, with an elder brother, he
shouldered his musket and went
forth to strike a blow for his coun-
try joyous era for American hu-
manity; but for him the events of
war were full of agony and grief, for
the war deprived him of brother,
father and mother. Behold then!
Our orphan hero sternly earnest,
consecrated to humanity from child
hood by sorrow, so young and yet so
solitary, and therefore, bound the
more closely to collective man. Be-
hold him elect for his lot to go forth
and to assist in laying the founda-
ton of society in the great valley of
the Mississippi. Before the nation,