The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-05
SONG IN NATIONAL LIFE.

Song has always played an important
part in the worlds history. Eloquence
and common sense have often failed
where song has succeeded. Many a ma
ton has been beguiled in a war against
its own more deliberate and wiser
Judgment by some patriotic air.
Poetry does not admit of argument
We fail to correct its misstatements be-
cause it spoils the rhythm. The council
chamber may discuss soberly, wisely
and conscientiously and deliver it's
Judgment to the people, but it will
stand as nothing with the popular will
if some rhyme, filed perhaps with un-
truths, certainly with exaggerations,
which displays different sentiment
catches the public mind
1t has often happened that q nation
has suffered dishonor and disgrace,
where, had a little manliness and de-
termination been shown, both would
have been avoided, and on another oc-
casion the same people have gone to
war to avenge an offense of half the
import when fired to do SO by lyric
verse.
Sometimes, however, timely song
has aroused a people from lethargy
which has near been their ruin. More
defeats have been turned into victories
by some inspiring song than by an in
spiring general
Our own nation has too often been in
debted to this mode of awakening and
of helping to awake public interest not
to be appreeiative Of and grateful for
its power. But we should also be thank
full that at certain critical moments in
our national life, some of which have
not long passed into history, some indi-
vidual has not burdened us with some
song which would put deliberate and
on to an unnecessary war.
Two nations of late have seen fit to
honor, by unwilling of monuments, two
persons whose songs have played such
part in history. Not long ago France
commemorated the centennial of Rouget
de Lisle, and on Sunday last in the un-
pretentious town of Tuttlingen, Max
Schnekenburger's name was honored by
the people to whose glory his scng was
written.
The effect of the work of the former
of these two writers was to do much
to make his country eventually a
republic; of the latter to make his
an empire. One urged his fellow-coun-
trymen to throw off the yoke of mon
archy, the other only the more firmly
set the crown upon the head of the ruler
of his native land by adding a new por-
tion of territory to its domain. Proba-
ably the literary merit of these two
songs are equal, but no one can reason
what effect song written to provoke
public enthusiasm will have upon his
tory. He who touches chords of human
sentiment can never tell what note will
be brought forth.
both France and Germany and even
America have produced, the national
songs of these peoples should have been
written by persons who have never
given to the world any other work
worthy of the public's attention And
yet, perhaps, when we consider of what
nature the effect of this poetry is, may
we not wonder that the national airs of
many couD tries were not written by
their greatest poets?
Our own greatest poets wrote OF
peace rather than war. Lowell's po-
etry related to the race, not to the ma
ton Whittier and others lamented
the fact of the necessity of war rather.
1t is much the same with the poets of
Germany None wished the RESPONSE
bility of urging on q war, when, per-
haps, it was unnecessary. Some, with
an ability for rhyming and overheated
with a zeal to Alright exaggerated
wrongs, might write such poetry If
they would. but the true poets mission
was different
Still there is no reason why the Ger
mans should not honor the author of
the Watch on the Rhine" If they en-
joy the mode of government they are
now under they should certainly build
monument to the man who did much
to bring that government into exist
ence. If they appreciate the remark
able kind of ruling of the genius who
is now on their throne they should love
the poet who helped mis- grandfather TO