The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-12
A Raleigh Banker Charms the
Great Convention.
DIXIE OF OLD AND OF NOW
With Swift Panoramic Sweep he Takes you
Through Patriarchal Ante BeIIum
Scenes !oihe Rushing, Th'ob-
b'ng Life Of To-day
b'ug Life Of To-day,
Especial to News and Observer

new orleans, La, NOV. ll.-Mr
Joseph G. Brown, president of the Citi-
zens' National Bank of Raleigh, deliv-
cred the principal address at the meet
ig of the National Bankers Association
here today. He did credit to North Car
olina and his speech made decided hit.
MIR. Brown said
In the long life of the great Law Giver
of Israel there were three eventful
periods. The first OF these covered that
portion of his life which was spent amid
the luxurious surrounding sof an Egyp-
tian court, as the adopted son of royalty
The second began when he chose to be
loyal and true to his own people, and
with them to endure poverty and want,
rather than remain the pctted son Of the
Kings daughter and enjoy all the pleas
ures that wealth and power could give.
This epoch in his life was one of loneli-
ness and privation as we'll as one of
preparation for the great life work to
which he had been called. The third
and last period was spent in the service
Of his people, leading them out of bond
age, guiding them through the wilder
ness, strengthening their faith and their
courage, and melting them to noble lives
by which they would be fitted for the
enjoyment of that land which God had
promised to their fathers.
In like manner the life of the people
of the South may be divided into three
distinct periods, almost parallel in their
nature with the unique career of Israers
leader. Prior to the Civil War our
Southern land, although sparsely popu-
lated, was the home of culture and re-
finement. With thousands of slaves to
cultivate their broad acres our people
lived in ease and plenty. But the war
came, like q bosom of destruction, carry
ing blight and devastation in it's path,
tearing down homes. laying waste the
towns, destroying the young manhood
and reducing to want and penury the
women of the land. Then came the long
to be remembered days, following the
close of the war. May we not, with pro-
priety call this the Resurrection period l.?
For all that contributed to the peace
and prosperity of the Southland was dead
save the spirit of her people. There is
law of nature that out of death comes
life. The grain of corn is buried in the
earth, and from it's dying mass comes the
new shoot. the new blade, the new stalk
which hears the new fruit. So, out of
the dead Confederacy came the new life,
the new energy, the new spirit that gives
to me the topic for this occasion. If /
could WELD the brush of an artist as
best illustrating these three periods, l
would spread on the canvass before your
eyes three parallel pictures First, that
of the old plantation home. The Great
house." as it was called, stands yonder
upon its lofty hill-a great house in fact,
with its many rooms, it's spacious halls,
its broad Verandas, all betokening the
rich hospitality that was so graciously
dispensed. In front Of the house, along
the foot of the sloping lawn, sluggishly
flows the beautiful river. Behind the
house, and beyond the barns and the
stables arc hundred neat cabins, with
the little negro children playing about
the doors, their cheerful mothers or
older sisters bustling about inside, or
keeping time in song to the music of the
spinning wheel; while in the broad fields
beyond the fathers arc filling the ground
In the evening time, just as the reflected
rays of this setting sun are making glori-
Gus the banks of clouds along the South
ern horizon, the melody of negro voices is
heard, as the laborers return from the
field; and, by and by, when the frugal
meal has been eaten, and the chores are
done, again is heard the weird negro
voice, accompanied by the stirring notes
of the old banjo; and presently the shut
fling feet of men and women and the
peals of merry laughter tell of the happy
freefrom-care life of the old plantation
home
But another scene arises before my
vision. Four years CT cruel war have
passed, and we are brought to the year
of grace, 1865. Along the country road
which follows the course of the river,
slowly and painfully trudges a man in
tattered gray. BY his side hangs an
empty sleeve. He seems dowpcast, de-
Jccted' but as he nears the site of the
old homestead his spirit seems to revive,
he quickens his pace, and a sweet smile
PLAYS over his cOuntenance He pauses
upon the brow of the hill from which can
. be had the first view of the dear old
home, from which he went. strong,
brave, hopeful man, four years before.
He shades his eyes. Tfe looks about him
in every direction-an6 again turns long
His bosom hcaves. tie tears run down
his checks, a look of inexpresSible sor-
row comes over his face. The old homo
is gone. Only the bare, backened chin.
neys and the debris about thcm mark
the place where it stood. There is the
same grassy lawn slipping down to the
rivers bank; the same familiar trees
stand here and there IN the yard; there
is the same old well from whose oaken
bucket he had so often quenchcd his
thirst in boyhood days; the same sun is
shining down from the heavens, but it
looks upon home no more. Pausing only
long enough to regain his composurC, he
brushes the tears from his checks, and
with determined step turns toward the
negro cabins. where appear the only
sign of life about the place. As be APP
proacheS the nearest cabin. an old gray
haired man, who is resting under the
shade of tho trees catches sight of him
and. rising. comes with tottcring steps
TO meet him From the cabin door. at
tracted by the Joyful exclamation OF the
aged man, there comes Al the same time
a sweet faced woman, clad in plain,