The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-02-15
New Have We Fallen.
BY BEVERLEY.

terly degrading to people as sub
jugation of spirit; to this it is COM
paratively small evil to be con-
quered by force of arms. The no.
blest people upon earth may be sub
jected to the latter when met by
overwhelming numbers and countless
advantages; but the former can never
happen SO long as true nobility re-
mains the proud heritage of the soul.
A cause which drew forth so much
valor as ours did, a cause upon the
alter of which woman freely laid the
riches gifts of her soul, cause en-
balmed in the best blood of the South,
a cause around which continually
arose the holy incense of peoples
sacritices-of every nature possible for
them to make, is glory as truly great
in its loss as in its success, and ten
thousand times is it more tenderly
loved. This glory is ours if we dwarf
not our souls to such pigmy proper
tons that there is nothing left upon
which to rest SO bright a crown.
Then may angels catch it away from
the fallen, place it above the graves
of the dead and shield it under the
shadow of their wings. What will
be said of us? That we stopped from
the proud pinnacles of cllivalrots,
noble people covered with the fame
of four years contestin which valor
was so universal that only the lack of
it attracted attention, to batten upon
filthy degradation. Oh, how have
we fallen when out of whole school
of white children only two leave when
negroes are entered upon a platform
of full social equality? Great God,
1 wonder that the spirits of our dead
do not rise up to jeer and scott us
when such degradation of soul is
witnessed. Methinks see Lee, Jack
son, Hill and host of their compeers
standing upon the eternal shores with
faces yelled in shame and sad tears
rising at the scene of their people so
fallen. Have these children parents?
If SO let line of demarkation be
drawn between them and those of
the city in whom old life yet fingers.
as broad and distinct as an ocean. I
received this information very direct
but perhaps it is not so; it may be
mistake God grant it.
I can understand how politicians
become corrupted, even to the filthy
depth of social equality; and I can
far better understand how true and
noble men, from love to our South
land and honor to right, may con-
sent to stand in our legislative halls
where the majority have placed the
negro, and breast the tide of wrong
and oppression there melted out to
us, if it be but to receive 1T with a
protest; but for the life of me, I can
not see how the private citizens can
have fallen SO low as to accept the
negroes as social equals for their
children. Can it be that they think
it possible to mingle the two together
in daily association without detri-
ment in point of morals and refine
ment? Surely no sane person can
believe this. It is much easier to
impress children with evil than good ;
and can it be possible to throw them
in daily association with those who
have not even an idea of honor and
truth, much less sense of refine
ment, without their being contami-
mated? All common sense denies it.
Are these parents devoid of common
sense. or. worse vet. are knowingly
false to their children? This is the
dilemma that all parents find them.
selves in who keep their children i'll
at school with negroes. One or the
other must be true of then. This is
Z plain language, but it is full time
that this question be dealt with
honesty as it is, without fear or ia.
I, vor. I could not have dreamed il
:, possible that large, or even small
+ school of white children could b.
/ found in the South, where only two
: would leave upon the entrance Of full
s ly acknowledged negroes. Too long
r the excuse, ''we cannot help our
selves" has been given for every &C
! : copied outrage. Our souls are oul
own, and we can keep them clear
. from pollution. God has not delega
8 ted to any man the power to injur.
S the spirit unless we consent. LIE
D the South remain true to it's own no
e bility and we will eventually arise
# from the thraldom1 of an expressing
D party, and assert our right to full
? equality in the States; but let III
:, prove false to ourselves, and let ou
q souls sink from the outward pressure
r upon us to a low standard, and WI
If will be easily kept down by any par
ty that may arise to attempt it. Apar
from the demoralizing power of SO
F cial equality, the very humiliation o
If admitting to the world that we &C
!, cept it in any degree is serious de
triment to true nobility of spirit
, Great and noble characters neve
were nurtured in school of humilia
e ton and shame; nor can any circum
n stances of themselves humiliate us;
If is only when we fall through thes
II circumstances from the proper stand
u ard of character that we are trul
|, Inundated, and this condition Ger
y tainly never fostered high and nobl
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