New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-17
NEW BOOKS.
SOUTHERN VOICES. Poems. BY William
II. Holcombe, NJ. D., Philadelphia: j. b.
Lip,ircOtt s. Co., 1872

DIR. Holcombe belongs to the hopeful class
of philosophers, and, while he can not, and
probably does not desire to divorce himself
altogether from present associations, dwells
more IN the future than the past. He is
| deeply impressed with Il conviction that a
| better age is coming than any that has pre-
| ceded it-a golden age, in which men and
nations will be more peaceable than they
have heretofore BEEN and more pros
porous; when, in the expressive language OF
Scripture, 1.-THE lion and the lamb shall lie
down together, and little child shall lead
them
For several years past he has annually
been giving to the world his beautiful pro-
ductions, instinct with a diviner life than
is ordinarily found in the books of this cen
fury. and We are at loss whether to admire
more the genial spirit that pervades them
or their scholarly execution. His English
prose style has reached as nearly the high
mark OF perfection IN purity and elegance
as our language is capable of attaining.
His opinions, put forth iii the successive
works he has just published, are regarded
by those who do not occupy the same stand
points with himself as dreamy and tran
| sccndental. Still all critics acknoW ledge
them to he quite fascinating. All admit
! that they are probably true and none deny
| their excellent and clevatin. tendency.
DR.. Iiolcombe has a very rich fancy, of
| which he has afforded evidence in the beau
| ti.ul and characteristic volume of poems
| that lies before us. and which. as the pro-
| duction of a Southern author of high repu-
tation and citizen of New Orleans, is
| entitled to more marked consideration at
| our hands than most Of the works with
| which the American book market is now a
| days glutted. 1t is said that the South has
| 40 literature. 1t would be more just to
say that little or no encouragement has,
| thus far, been given to the scholars Of the
| South, and their most meritorious produc-
! tons. 1t is only within a few years that
| Northern houses. distorted by sectional
| preiudices. have dared even to print South
ern books at all.
| The poems Of DR.. HolcGmbc commence
| rate some of the most striking events OF the
| Southern soldiers and the brilliant achieve
ments of Southern generals. OF course.
handled as they are by one deeply sympa-
thzing in their fortunes, they come home
especially to the boSoms of those who have
been bereaved of their brave ard gifted
kindred by the vlcissifIdcs of war. 1t
would be easy to establish our favorable
Judgment by transferring to our columns
several of these poems, dli our limits per-
nit. 1t is unnecessary, however, in this
mode. to recommend work, coming from
such quarter. and treating, for the most
part. OF topics So deeply int resting to the
men and women of the entire South. 1t is the
embodiment of the spirit of the Southern
confederacy, i'll the poetical outpouringS of
one of its most decided champions. but who.
now that the war is over. is disposed to
accept the situation and bury the
hatchet." which. on both sides. inflicted
heavy strokes. but which the poet would
now. if practicable, convert into ~ pruning
hook" or some other utensil of peace.
We select the following as a fair and ia
vcrable specimen of DR.. Holcombe's muse
THE BURIAL.
Q dig us a grave in the darkest woods,
Or alone hv the sounding
or .t.r in the deserts splituir-
And wide and deep let It b.
We viii bury therein vii past
In silence and sa mess AID shame:
The pride and the sersi, lryt-s II: east
Their shadows upon on: tame.
he spirit that made and kept men sla yes
TIL. tears and fhe blood D. the past
Tie madness thar ril-d the land with graves,
And the hate which dies at last.
Our woes and wronys-.e. them buried be
The riot OF torch and blade;
And Sh-rman's fire shoi march to the sea,
And the desert Sherdii made.
And east in tina perfect dream we dreamed,
Our glory with all its d ,t.s;
And the sp en,lor of al! the swords that cleaned
For the tranpcd rights of the States.
The flag carried for four on- years
Let the flag all he spread,
But first embrace il and bathe II with tears,
For the sake of the gallant dead.
Then fill up the grave and mark the place
With IA white stone craven peace
And let lis pray for Cod, sweet grace
That wars forever may CEASE
And let remember that nothing dies
Winch God has ordained to live:
That freedom shall reign beneath the skies
Aud the peace that God shall give.
SPEECHES OF GKoRGH W. JULIAN. of In
diana. ON political questions. With an
Introduction by l.. Maria Child. New
York. Published by Hurd & Houghton.
In this volume we have over four hun
dred and seventy quarto pages of the
speeches of the great Western Radical
statesman, delivered on various occasions,
and on almos- every subject that has agi-
tated the nation. Being one of the leaders
OF the old Abolition party. and Jealous for
the success of its principles when most of
the present disciples of that sublime faith
were either shareholders or their apollo
gists, Mr.. Julian naturally bestowed much
of his time upon the question of slavery
His anti-slavery speeches were usually
made i'll the House of Representatives,,
much t" the disgust of the statesmen of the
last decade who could neither silence him
by violence. nor answer his arguments.
And now that the principles for which he,
with Il handful of Others. contcnded, against |
what appeared to be hopeless Odds have
become Incorporated in the constitution, /
and imbc'lded in the hearts of the people. |
his speeches possess "a peculiar interest to
the political student. They are an official
report OF the most important campaign Of |
the worlds history, and as such will be |
read and relied upon as the reasons, among
others, for the nations verdict against
slavery. For sale in New Orleans by w.