The Washington herald., 1909-01-28
Poems and Poems

Poems sad Poems
The Charlotte Observer criticises too
harshIy, we think. some recent verses ten
dered Mr.. Taft by a sentimental. patri-
otic. and Hberty-Ioving Chariestonian
during the President-eiect's visit to South
Carolina a few short days ago.
We assume no right to champion the
Palmetto poets in particular. and we seek
10 pass no ultimate judgment upon their
wares. We content ourselves with ex-
pressing a firm conviction that they are,
al least, no worse than their South Caro-
lima brethren: and If that does not yet
make them bards sublime and the best in
all creation. It. nevertheless. in the very
nature Of things. must safeguard them
against a place at the absolute foot Of
The class.
This South Carolina effusion is not SO
bad that it might no; be worse, we take
it-even from the average Tarheel point
Of view:
Judge William H. Taft. our chieftain to Dc.
On The Sd wiIl visit on cts By the SEA
Then let Us extend a welcome 50 warm
That oIr statesman vii feel completely a. hone-
let hyF0ne Gays be cast aside
And welcome or hero with hearts open vide.
Us peace. sweet peace that our nation all crave,
Ard not humility that causes rs 10 ave.
LII the white man rule in his elegant grace
And tie oolo-Cd nan conform 10 his secondary
plaoc-
Lst bysOne days b cast aside.
And welcome OgF hero with hearts open vide.
Then. here in the south. let Us extend rnrm
hand
To welcome Judge Taft as the ruler q our land.
And nay he rich blessings OF our nstion best0U.
And cause il % a0urish as never before
Let bygune DAYS Be cast aside.
And welcome Cur hero with hearts OPEN WIDE
II this is shy on lit and a trife lame
on rhyme. it is as long as a bean-pole on
sentiment. hearty good-fellowship. and
uplifting intent The Observer objects to
rhyming ..bestow' with before" Cap
tious and triaing. Don't they say ''befo-
tn war" in Charlotte? OF course. they
do We have heard them. And If 'befo~
doesn't rhyme with "bestow." we ride
our Pegasus 10 poor purpose.
If. however. cur contemporary prefers
the more stilted styles Of the frozen
North to the passionate appeals that
pour from the poets Of Dixie Lsnd-and
frankly. We tremble TO suggest even such
a suspicion-it viii come along with us
The while we recite for its deIeetauon,
edihcstion, and possible delight, one gem
Of purest ray serene snstched pulsating
I from the columns Of the Providence
I Or. L. Journal. the same which goeth in
/ this wise:
Why all these lies and bitter hating
shown toward Ger Charies r. Brsstons
+ In all his acts 4 life
i He has come through the bloody strife
/ Look az his recurd. Derer rgriss;
But ~ the hattlefelds and the post-oficc
I He showed how mich a nan could do
Who an honest gentleman throegh ard tbrouEh-
7 The lawyers NAV howl and the Journal s-esa
And kick ZIP charges which IS a pipe dream,
1 But be proves be has the love and votes
When ffty-six men put n their snail notes
/ jerry Rs;litsTn and Bnyton Is the team for ne.
Z They VII shed honor On this community
I 4 hard working farmer boT who has rose
( is not 20 be desrised by snobs with fne clothes
\ Ard long life. I say. 10 Rathhun
{ For at the noble things he has done
/ He wiH be the sane in the Superior Court
A he has IN West Greenglich and the assembly,
taught
/ AiTaTs uTEigit- r-1re. and tine.
Watching the corporations for me and you
. No unjust measure could ever get By
While Je-rr had his eagle eve
Does the Charlotte Observer think it can
produce anything in the James Gordon
Coogler lire that can beat our Rhode
Island exhibit? We trow not. if. indeed
we positively wot not, Why. then. this
sneering at the Charleston poet? Is the
1 Observes. jealous? Perhaps. It's mighty
/ hard-headed about some things it thinks
II thinks. Witness its butt-headedness in
icontendiug- even in this enlightened Gay
and time, that Andrew Jackson. Of South
Carolina. was really born in North Caro-
lima.