The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-11
YEA OR NAY:
As Applied to the Men and Women
of the South.


of the South.
On his sreech at Atlanta President Nc
Kinley alluded to the good feeling that had
sprung up between the sections and said
that he thought the time had come when
the national government should care for
the graves of the heroes who fought for
the Stars and Bars as wei as for those
who marched beneath the victorious folds
OF the Stars and Stripes. This suggestion
on the part CT the President was met with
a set Of resolutions adopted by Charter
Chapter Of the Daughte.s of the Cohfed-
eraey, located in Savannah. IN which the
President was thanked for the kindly mo-
tive that prompted his sugge suOn. but II
was resolved thar he care OF the graves u
southern heroes was the pro .ince and duty
OF the women of the South, duty they
held sacred and which tney were unwilling
10 surrender. These resolutions provoked
the poem that follows. 10 the original
chapter of Daughters oil he COnfedefacy,
Savannah. Ga, in honor Of Their timely and
patriotic resolution, adopted March ., in re-
ply 70 the Presidents propositioni a RIB
ule inscribed by Austin Rush. }
Washington, d. c.
SHAH we yield up the care of the graves Of
Who fen meath the folds Of the Red,
White and Red?--
The sons Of our Southland who fought fo1
And marched with the giory-erowned leg
ions OF Lee.
Their once cleaning sabers are covered
with rust
The banner they followed is low in the
dust.
The flag of the Northman triumphantly
Ee has taken our all, but has left us our
graves.
The patriots tomb IS posterity's shrine
whence Liberty's beacon forever should
shine,
A legacy precious to guard and to keen.
a Mecca where pilgrims may worship and
weep.
Shall we shield them or yield them? Make
- answer ye braves:
Shall we guard for our children these
green Southern graves
That tel of their forefathers' valor and
And deathless devotion to truth and the
right?
Or shall we surrender to others our claim
Fame?
To this sacred duty the foeman aspires-
Snail we pub ish our shame with The fame
OF our s!res?
And you, Southern women. to you we now
Fair Daughters of Dixie, your wishes to
learn;
Yours first of all others the right to de-
For now and forever what choice to abide.
From Chesapoakes head to the banks of
the Graud,
From Florida groves 10 Missouri's broad
land
You smiled on the hosts of the Red, White
You prayed for the dying, you wept Ger
the dead.
While hope was yet living you cherished
When hope. for eye persisted you mourned
at their graves;
So true and 50 change .ess, through all the
You have strewed them with flowers, be-
dewed them with tears.
You have never forgotten the ,abor of 1--we
As deaf Mess, enduring as hat from above;
So fond and so fearless and faithful al
You have guarded the graves of our mar
tyrs in gray.
Now the congueror comes with the palm In
And tardily tenders this boon to our land
To care fer our dead as he cares for his
And emblazon their prowess on metal and
stone.
Shall we gratefully hasten the gifts to en-
And gladly accord him our peans of praise?
Chanse The soulherner's sigh and the pa
triots prayer
At the !southerner's tomb for the conquer
ors care?
Is the prize so alluring. TIE homer so grea4?
wa our dead rest the better for lying ia
state?
Would they rather this care of their new
ly found FREUD
Or the love, of the land that they disd TO
defend?
The grandest erections of wealth and OF
Srt
Or perpetual place in the southerner's
Emblsazon.d inscriptions or wreaths ever
fresh?
A statue of bronze o. a tabl-t of flesh?
i indeed we surrender this last sacred rite.
The care end protection Of others invite
Would cur dead not the rather prefer 10
Forever unmarked on the field of the
slain?
The sun would smile on them, the heavens
would weep,
The oaks would guard proudly the s-sliers
last S'eeD,
The thunder salute would resound over
head,
The winds would sound fifty the dirge for
the dead
No conqueror's tablet spoIutirg the spot.
10 tell lhe sad tale, by their country for
Unmarked and unmeniioned, to- sleep
meath the sod,
Yet guarded by nature, watched oger OF
To you. Southern women. to you we now
turn.
Shall we shield them or yield them? From
you we would learn:
y Is your 10 decide, he L yea, be It nay
He Daughters of Dixie make answer TO-
Cay
Her Theory.-"What makes young Mr.
Bught wear his hair so long" said Maud
"Oh, 1t isn't his fault. poor how re- |