The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-08-29

wrote the following
TIE CONQUERED BANNER.
Gallant nation, foiled by numbers
Say not that your hopes are dead,
Keep that glorious flag that slumDers,
One day to avenge your dead;
Keep it, widowed, silent mothers,
Keep It, sisters, mourning brothers,
Furl it with an iron will,
Furl it now, but keep it still.
Think not that its work is done,
Keep it till your children take 1t,
Once again to hail and make it
All their sires have bled and fought for,
Bled and fought for all alone
All alone; aye, shame the story,
Millions here deplore the stain,
Shame, alasl for England's glory,
Freedom called and called in vain.
Furl that Banner, sadly, slowly
Treat it gently, for tits holy,
Till the day, yes, furl it sadly,
Then once more unfurl it gladly
Conquered Banner, keep it still.
THE REPLY.
Judge j. F. Simmons, late Chancellor
of the Mississippi State judiciary, but
now editor of the Henderson (Ky.) Re-
porter, who followed the Southern BAN
ner through four years of war, wrote
the following reply to Sir Henry, which
we copy from his admirable volume of
poems, entitled "The Welded Link"-
the link that bound North and South
together, that was broken by war but
has been welded in peace:
Briton! We have fnrled that Banner
Furled it on the field of strife,
Furled it in manly manner,
Furled it, though twas dear as life
Furled it, Briton, tor no nation
Gave us friendly words at all;
While we struggled for salvation
They looked on to see US fall;
Though we earned their admiration,
And they yield this, twas all.
Furled it, Briton! and have laid it
Folded carefully, away
Had you mpathized--and said it,
Shown it at an earlier day,
You, and England, who were noting
Every ef1OrC tnaC we maue,
Then, perhaps, had now been floating,
That loved Banner. But--'tis dead
Not because wars tempests tore it,
Not because it was not loved
BY the Spartan band who bore it,
And had their devotion proved;
Not because it was not cherished
By brave and gallant band,
But from cold neglect it persisted,
rs Cold neglect from every land.
This, even more than numbers,
And resources without end,
Killed the cause, the flag, that slumbers
Save at home, they had no friend!
Briton! Dixie might have thanked you,
Thanked your country for word,
But we might some day have rank'd you,
And we not a whisper heard.
Could it be the British Lion,
Looking far away ahead,
Feared his ancient foeman's scion?
Or did he the old sire dread?
Whatsoever it was, kind Briton?
Since you Stunned us in our need,
Now, without you, We'll get on,
Nor will we your counsel heed;
For, proud Briton! We have given
Pledges brave men never break,
And which aided by kind heaven,
We'll abide, though slow to make.
Vengeance you can never teach us,
This belongs to God alone;
Nor shall He in wrath impeach US,
For deed in vengeance done.
True, our comrades, vast in number,
Lie in DEATHS cold, dreamless sleep,
But as many foemen slumber,
Over whom their loved ones weep;
And our widowed ones, and mothers,
Who have felt wars bitter blows
All our sisters and our brothers,
Sympathizes with others woes.
All allurements disregarding,
Knowing nought of'iron WILL"
Vengeance, if ever felt, discarding,
They will love that banner still;
Love it, for the cause that gave it
Birth and life, and with it fell;
Love it, though they could not save 1t,
Heard with pain it's funeral knell;
Love 1t for the mem'ries blending
Round the hosts beneath it slain,
Yet, though loving, ne'er intending
10 unfurl its folds again.
-[Confederate Annals.