The morning journal-courier., 1908-01-24
ROBERT BURNS.

The Scotch people of this city met last night to do honor to the memory of Robert Burns The world over, wherever Scotchmen are found who cherish the history and traditions or their native land, the birthday ami of Robert Burns is celebrated, ore hundred and forty-eight years have rolled by since his birth He is reverenced with a feeling akin to that which Americans hold for Washington and Lincoln.
 Robert Burns may be said to be Scotland personified, so strongly have his ballads taken hold of the hearts of the people. Some one has said that "Lowland Scotland as a distinct na- tionality came in with two warriors and went out with two bards. It came in with William Wallace and Robert Bruce and went out with Rob- Cit bhll lllS anu WhileI Dcult' l liC iieh two made the history, the last two told the story and sung the song" It is certain that Burns has sung in a way to win and to keep the affections of his countrymen forever and of all who love the sincere and unaffected verse of the common life. Burns has gathered in his songs the memories and traditions of his country His mel odies are an epitome of the memories of Scotland's national life for centuries and the best inspirations that belong to them. He was the poet of the com mon people and to their hearts he sang. He has gained such a hold on his own countrymen that they prefer to see only that which is noblest in him and not his errors. They take the position evidently taken by Jean Paul Richter in a company of German critics who were weighing the respec-
 
 tive merits of their poets When the name of Goethe was mentioned, Rich ter is said to have bade silence, and exclaimed; We are not to sit in iudg- ment on that sacred head
 So is it with Burns For the good he has done he lives in the heart of Scotland. It Is the good everywhere that gives promise of immortality, and 1t is as strong an evidence that the errors are so soon forgiven and for gotten Burns life knew only struggle and hardships and his sunny nature and warm heart were easily suscepti- ble to temptations, but above all else he was possessed of a spirit of sin cerity and simplicity He was faithful to the cardinal virtues of truth, jus tice and charity, notwithstanding his experiences Nothing short of an in- spiration of national import raised him mp and attuned his heart to sing Scotland's memories It was while walking the furrows in his fathers field he was stirred by a longing, he tells us:
 That l for poor auld Scotland's sake
 Some useful plan or book could make
 Or sing a song at least"
 He has sung his song, many of them; he has made his way to the heart of the common people, and has voiced the feeling of the ordinary man Though his lot was that of toll, pover- ty, disappointments and too convivial habits. he was ever expressing in his songs his own aspirations for some thing better than he was. Beside love and good fellowship frequent motive of his song was patriotism He be- lieved in practical democracy and sympathized with the French revolu- ton, for which he was not well re- garded. But in his sober convictions he stood for liberty and brotherhood as expressed in the "Twa Dogs and "A Mans a Man for a that"