The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-06-01
presidents and statesmen, who gave

to our republic were southern men.
Chief Justice Marshall, and other
judges of the supreme opurt, who
gave a wealth or intellect to that body
and made it take rank with the high
est judicial tribunals in all the world,
were the gift of the south to the re-
public.
$50 in all the glories and traditions
and achievements of the United
States, whether on land or sea, in field
or cabinet, the south has a common
interest and common heritage.
$50. initiating the example and fol-
lowing the counsels of the early pa
triots, some of whom I have named,
we should regard ourselves as they
regarded themselves, not as southern
men, but as Americans only. This is
true patriotism, and without which pa
triotism is meaningless.
st is true that we had sectional diff
ferences, which led to a sectional
war, the most desperate and terrific,
indeed, of modern times, but that war
having been ended and that difference
settled by the arbitrament of the
sword, and settled for all time to
come, the whole thing should be for
gotten, except that we may be inspir-
ed to initiate their deeds of valor
and heroism.
Neither the present nor the future
should be linked in bondage TO the
past.
THAT war grew out of a difference
of constitutional interpretation-the
south believing that it was right in it's
Interpretation, and the north believing
that the south was wrong, and that
it was right in its Interpretation, and
neither side should be ashamed of the
valor or the courage that was display
ed and the hardships endured in that
great struggle. and our respect and ad-
miratiop for each other should be in
tensified thereby.
Grants conduct at Appomattox
was heroic, and | believe would have
been impossible under any other form
of government. 1t was the highest IL
lustration of patriotism known to the
human race. The magnanimity he
showed to the southern armies and
their leaders is without an example
in ancient or modern times. and stands
out like the shadow of a great rock
in weary land.
THE ancients exhibited their cap
tives in cages through the streets of
their principal cities, and after thus
humiliating them, consigned them to
torture and to death; in biblical times,
nothing was spared, whole armies per-
ished, and women and children were
put to the sword Dy the conquering
hosts: in later times, the Duke of
Monmouth lost his head while plead
ing for mercy at the feet of James;
cannon were turned loose on the
wretched Sepoys; the great Napoleon
was banished, and the unfortunate
MaXimillian was brought to the stake.
Grant, at the head of the armies of
the United States, demanded no vic
tins. but, instead, said in language
that should and will make his name
immortal: Let us have peace!'
This alone should make us forget
the bitterness of that strife, and honor
this flag and teach our children to do
| likewise.
1T is the emblem of progress-the
emblem of enlightenment beacon
light to the nations fthe earth
''Tt was Alexander H. Stephens, vice
president of the Confederate States,
who said that this flag fioated over
the freest government the sun ever
shone on And that is true, and none
should appreciate that fact more than
the citizens of the south, because her
patriots and her heroes helped in a
large measure to make it so.
But what connection exists be-
tween schools and freedom-betWeen
education and liberty? You had just
as well ask what connection exists be-
tween the tree and its fruit-between
vine and flower. If you touch one
you touch the other also, and if you
kill tree or vine, fruit and flower
| will ,-:tbar ord nar;ct
Education is the key to the hidden
mysteries of rature-it Is know edge,
and knowledge is power Apply the
knowledge that education brings and
what is the result? Take iron for ex-
ample. Its value in the earth is only
estimated by the ton. Made into bars
it is worth s., but if a bar is shaped
into horseshoes. it is worth $40; con-
verted into Steel and made into nee
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