The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-02-01
One Nation and One People.
Times-Demoerat. January p

| ~
i One hundred years hence when some
Maeaulay shaliswrite the history OF the
! United States during the latter half OF
! the nineteenth century, one of the most
interesting incidents that will attract
his attention will be in the first in
stance the process. by which the South
ern Commonwealth, after the civil
war, were re-incorporated into the
body polite of the nation, and. IN the
second instance. the ethical perceptions
which enable men who fought for the
| Confederacy TO rejoice alike that they
were followers of Davis and. Lee and
Johnston and Beauregard and that
later, as American citizens, they sup
ported the republic and taught their
children to love and to sustain it. That
the historian of the future will be- re-
quired to explain this somewhat singu-
lar fact is clear to every one who
travels to-day in the Southern, States;
for there is indisputabIe proof that the
native American spirit--loye., for the
republic. love for the flag. love for the
land, love for all the people and for all
the institutions-ha been surely con-
served and highly cultivated in the
Southern Commonwealths. There may
be many and various reasons for this
happy conditions; national pride and
national faith and national hope have
doubtless contributed not little to
this devoutly wished for consumma-
tion. We are sure, however, we shall
not be misunderstood when we say that
Americans of the Southern States have.
by contemplating the life. the character
and the ideals of the Confederate sold
Ter. drawn their best and most abiding
patriotic Inspiration.
The truth of this statement is freshly
illustrated by the sentiment that DOM
mates little volume of verses recent
iy written by Nr Samuel B. Kennedy,
of Lake Providence. La,-verses which
though, perhaps not exceptional in
form. have the ring of true patriotism.
Mr.. Kennedy's little booklet is entitled
"Malyern Hill and Patriotic Poems"
and is dedicated '.Fo the Memphis re-
union Q901) of the old soldiers of the
are individual monuments'to the glory
of their country; to the dead whose
bones lie beneath the soil of thousand
battlefelds." From cover to cover of
the little volume is sounded the note
of patriotism. and sounded. too. so
clearly that all men who understand
how sweet thing it is to live and to
die for ones country will read these
poems with satisfaction. ~
That Mr. Kennedy is an American
of a Southern Stale and that he is not
with the literature of
this section are illustrated by this ex.
cerpt from arhe Southland which
opens the volume:
Yes, giveme the Land that hath suffered
and bled.a
Whose people still boast of the graves of
theirdead;
Fer the dust of Ter heroes bath hallowed
the sod. - e 1
Where they struggled for Right and for
Home and tor God"
This suggestion of the Confederacy is
by these stanzas from
the graceful verses, 10 Winnie
DAVIS"
.Sleep fair daughter for we love you,
And We'll linger at your grave:
Wewifl scatter flowers above you,
And the bravest of the brave.
When from battlefield returning.
At thine earthly shrine shall kneel,
And stout hearts with valor burning,
PHYS tender touch shall feel.
g.
Sleep %. daughter, millions love thee,
Millions yet unborn shall hive;
And the tears they shed above thee
Shall be fit fordleaven above"
That the Southern people will aal-
ways cherish with admiration and |
Affection the memory of the Confeder-
acy is well explained in these lines
: Yet, If there's aught on earth that can lay
claim sfe
TO endless glory or eternal fame.
Tis. when "A nation rises IN its might
And battles bfavely for the cause OF Right.
fair. sunny Southland thou hast fought
and bled ss.s,
But. thou are mighty still thou art n OF
dead @ff@
And from the wreck of blood and fire. shall
The nobiest land that smiles beneath the
not, from thy breast tie scar shall
Ven Irvine the laurel round the hero's
blade;
Ven hang itproudIy on the wall of time.
FOR it wasstained with blood. but not with
crme."
This is the strophe--the echo of the
Ionfederacy. Here is the antistrope--
he clarion note,of American patriot
sm :y
.."America Z America.
As long us freedoms cry.
{ Like the old bell Of Liberty,
Shall ring adewn the sky.
So1ong Thy sons wlllloye thy name,
Aud by thine affairs stand,
, And swear forever thou shalt live,
America, my land :" -
And this to ''Tlre American Eagle:o
Soar aIoft ! for the sons Of Columbia shall
like the bird oftheir country, all fetterless,
free ts.
he Union forever shall flourish through
time. II s9e1
md thou shalt be queen OF thy limitless
cline p. ~ |.
Our fathers fought The battles OF Sc
ession.H writes Mr. Kennedy in foot
ote to his United Forever Each
he'd his blood for,what he thought was
light Their names and their fame
elong to the common history of our
onlmon country. The sword decided
hat the forum could not So be l.!
mother generation has come on, and
he sons Of the Blue and the GRAY have
ought side by sidefor'the eternal prin-
iples of liberty on the soil of down
rodden Caba. Let their blood wash