Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/130

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with such gives a kind of immortality. He was a ' Waterloo" was a diploma of nobility. How much greater: He was the friend of the matrons of the South."

Years have passed since bugle call and roll of drum were heard summoning the soldiers of the South to battle against the soldiers of the North. Since then many of those who participated in the great contest, have embarked on " eternity's ocean " and a new genera- tion has come on life's stage. Flower and shrub and fruit tree make beautiful now the fields that once were made red with the blood of the soldier's heart. The States of the North and of the South, thanks to the Master, are one great and glorious Union.

But, Confederate Veterans and Sons of Confederate Veterans, "still I say to you," drop not from memory's roll the names of "Our Heroes," and remember, especially remember, the martyrs of your own State Ward and Lamar and Call and Parkhill and Bird and Bradford and Simmons and McLean and Pyles, and other sons of Florida, whose lives went out in war's wild tempest. Remember, also, Anderson, Finnegan, Maxwell and Beard, and Brevard and Daniel, and others, who escaped death on the field of carnage and have "passed over the river" since the smoke of battle cleared away.

Can we forget them ?

No; no; no; And years may go, But our tears shall flow O'er the heroes who fought and died for us.

Though I speak to you thus, my hearers, think not that it is my desire to awaken in your hearts feelings of the terrible days gone by and to revive the animosities of the past. Nay, I would not if I could, -and sure I am that I could not if I would.

But I would have, while cherishing and honoring the memory of your "gallant dead," to be ever wishing and hoping that the valor displayed, the trials endured and the blood shed by the soldier who wore the gray, as well as by him who wore the blue may conduce, "as time steals away," to cement more firmly together the different sections of our country, and to make stronger and stronger the regard and love of its citizens for each other, and that continually there may be ascending from the hearts of all throughout our broad and free land the prayer: