The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-02-24

OUR DUTY AS A STATE TO OUR INDUSTRIOUS SONS.
Written for Tho Commonwealth
The proposition to eect a monument to the memory of Irwin Russell
should meet with a generous response from the people of Mississippi.
No country has been more denict in its duty to its ilustrous sons than
the state of Mississippi. She is ne Of the old states, and yet in the eighty
years OF her history she has had no Sol whose memory she has seen fit to
honor by a monument. When the youth of Mississippi visits the great ex-
positions of the world, he finds every county, and every state, save his own,
ereotaoy represented ne wanders through the beautiful ground" ana M
magnificent buildings and at every turn sees m young man from an
other state, with patriotic enthusiasm point to that states exhibit with the
boast: "This is my own, my native land He visits the battlefelds of the
ciyl. wal now dotted all over with monuments erected to commemorate the
valiant deeds of "thoe who died for their state" but among them finds no
shaft that tells of Mississippi. he finds monuments at Gettysburg all along
the bloody field from the Emmetsburg turnpike. through the Peach Orch
ard, and up the Ridge beyond, where the massive marble, erected by the
state of Massachusetts, marks the spot where Bigelows Battery fell, but
among them all there is no stone to tell that Barksdae swept that field with
his IN issssppians or marks the spot where he fell.
There Is in the Smithsonian Institute at Washington City. . section Of
atree some eighteen inches SIM diameter that was literally SHOT in two by min
ME balls, at spotsylvana Court House. There is, however, neither n the
Institute MOI upon that battlefield, any evidence of the fact that behind
that tree, in that Bloody Angle Nat Harris Mississippi Brigade were "dy-
ing for their state" He might find on close inspection at Chcamauga
Park, numerous little 'markers, >" that tell how Missisippmns charged and
carried snodgrass Hill. He would find that hill and all the Park dotted
with beautiful monuments to show how bravely those had died who went
down before that charge, but among them none bears evidence that MisNs-
sippi remembers her dead.
No marble slab tells him how Davis turned the tide at Buena Vista
how Qultman planted the flag before the gates of Bclen, or McCung led the
desperate charge that carried the heights of Monte Rey.
The grave Of Prentss, who charmed the nation with his eloouence, is
unmarked by any tribute of our love.
There is neither, canvas, bust, nor tablet in the capital at Jackson to
remind the youth of the state that the past holds ought 10 give him pride
in Mississippi.
When the capital at Washington wa enlarged during the war, the old
hall of the House of Representatives, which had been the scene of the early
'NloIHes VI ITeHuSS anu DaVlS, au LnelFc OnNGG, was converted into what
is called Statuary Hall. In this hall each state has the right to place stat
ues of such of her sons a she deems worthy of that honor. But alas for
Mississippi, the space allotted her, is vacant. These re but few of the
many, many proofs of our ingrattude. If indeed ingratitude be more
strong than traitors arms, have we cause to wonder. when the recent call was
made IN Mississippi, that she perfmce called on her sister states to helm
furnish her quota of men? Iumijating as was her situation then. when all
the other states were rushing to the front, she was but fulfilling the DEGREES
of fate: A country without monuments is a country without men!
Let us then erect this monument to Irwin Russell, the poet and phil
)osopher. Let usr revive patriotism and tell the youths Of Mississippi those
stories in her history which, when learned, will stir their blood with honest
pride and spur them on to higher aims and lofMer purposes. No nan car
read the poems of Irwin Russell Alright and not be better for his pains. He
was the first of all the negro dialect writers, and by common concent, he is
the best. The happy scenes Of the Old Plantation will live in bis words. in
the years to come, and be our strongest as they will be u truest defender
before the judgment bar of history.
Missssippis young poet, Irwin Russell, was born in Port Gibson. June
3, 1853. Now we will suggest to our State Superintendent of Education, or
the committee who has this work in charge, that this day or night be set
apart for the public schools in the state to give a recital from his works or
some kind of an entertainment tor the purpose of raising a fund to be
devoted to erecting the proposed monument to his memory. Let US each
contribute as he is able to do, remembering that though the amount of our
contribution be ever so small we will have done our full duty, if
"Accordmr ter del gifts we hSw wee luz de besw we knows.
b. G. Humphreys.