The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-01-06
ADDRESS TO THE
SONS OF VETERANS
By w. w. Harriss, Commander of the
Florida Division, S. c. ", at the
First Reunion, Lakeland, Fla, Oc-
tober %, 1914.


organization is manifold and far
reaching, but paramount TO all else
is the perpetuation of the deeds OF
valor and the protection and preser-
walton of the good name of the Con-
federate soldier, whose incompara-
bic courage and sacrifice are the
amazement of the entire world. Like
our Saviour, he gave up all for lib
Grafton from oppression and died for
those he loved.
The sacredness of the cause for
which our soldiers fought has en-
twined a tie so strong around the
hearts of those survivors of the con-
f1ict as to meet annually for compan-
ionship; and from the time of ancient
history to the present day ours is the
only vanquished army ever to re-
unite. Would you exchange your in
heritance of share in the fame of
the Confederate soldier in war and in
peace for all the wealth, the honor
and pensions of his erstwhile foe !?
We are yet too near the time of the
war to write absolutely impartial his
tory; but when it shall be written we
may safely trust that justice will be
done the motives which prompted the
Southern men to take up arms and
the manner in which they bore them
selves in war and defeat. 1t is to me
one of the unsolvable riddles of hu-
man nature that there are those
aside of the memories of that period
and forgetting its awful aftermath
of our losses, accept conditions as
they are, and press forward to the
way of material progress. fear that
this sentiment is far too general,
that in "the struggle for power and
the scramble for wealth" we are apt
to become so absorbed that we shall
neglect the cultivation of those finer
qualities which have heretofore been
distinguishing characteristics. of the
Southern people. Nations and indi-
things which in the crucible of life
force character and make men. Have
the Irish people lost anything by
their almost sacred reverence for
the memory of Robert Emmett, tho
the cause of freedom for Ireland, for
which the young patriot gave his
life, lacks yet its contamination
Has the French nation lost anything
because of its worship of Napoleon,
notwithstanding that maker of dy
nasties and kingdoms died in exile on
the lonely island of st. Helena?
No great deed is lost to the world.
1t requires reverses to round out the
character of a people, and it takes
misfortune to force the finest temper
of individual character. 1t is not in
compatible with an honest loyalty to
a restored Union that we retain a
proud memory of that nation (which
rose SO pure and fell so free from
crime" 1t is not an evidence of
ultraconservatism nor clinging to
the idols of the past that we hold in
Il grateful remembrance the heroic &C
4 tions of the men and women of the
past and, by the erection of monu-
ments to them and the preservation
of truthful history, defend their
names from the oblivion of time and
hand down to posterity the unfair
nished story of their fame. These
heroes are our fathers. Then what is
our duty? There is but one an
swer: to work to accomplish the pur-
poses that our beloved Confederation
has as its aim. There is to every or
ganization, aside from sacred senti-
ment, practical side. At present
we have our state camps, S. C. ", ap-
proximating hundreds of members;
but this is only the beginning OF
what we can accomplish If you, my
comrades, will bend your efforts anC
influence, imbued with the sense Oh
duty we owe to the living and de.
parted heroes. For the results al
ready attained we are, for the most
part, indebted to our adiutant il
chief, General Forrest, and past com
mander, Comrade ]. II. Burroughs
but is it your desire that we rest sat
isfed? Certain there are others whC
have contributed to the growth of oul
organization; but if we get together
in the same spirit of devotion fol
! hsuch laudable purposes, can you
imagine what the results would be?
Our bylaws prescribe, advise anc
urge that every Son secure and wear
the badge authorized, which is a golC
button displaying the flag so sacred
to us all, the insignia of our organ
ization. 1t is an honor to be able tt
wear one and an Identification t.
meet a comrade with one. These
buttons can be obtained from oul
headquarters at Memphis.