Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-05-10
THE CREOLES
DroRY TOLD eY r. L. DESDuNEs
2 IN HIS HiaToRY "ouR MEN
AND hlsTORY." s5.gl
ayv p. THOMAS.

5s IN Ms nI8VONv WIN M6N
AND HisToRY."
" ~ v. p. THOMAS. ~
Y New Orleans.-"Nos Hommes g
Notre Historic" II the title Of a book
Of biographical notices. personal remi
nisoencies, reflections and tributes up
ON the colored creole population OF
New Orleans. by r. L. Desdunes. The
book II written in French and 10
production worthy Of the French style
OF the author, who Is well known
among readers In New Orleans as
flns thinker and an able writer OF both
French and English.
The men OF color Of whom Mr.. Des-
dunes has written In this volume OF
1876 pages were men regarded by their
compatriots and contemporaries as re-
markable men. In letters. in the fine
arts, In music, In the arts OF war and
peace, and In the teaching profession
OF the day and times. A number OF
pictures Of these people, adorns the
pages OF the book.
: Mr.. Desdunes opens the first page
Of his work with the following signi-
Meant quotation from Montesquieu-
~Une In justice faite . un seul est une
menace faite q tous," and proceeds to
supply the reasons for making use OF
the French writer's observation. that
fan Injustice done to one alone Is
menace to all" The memorable cam
paign of 1814-15 which eliminated In
the great battle Of New Orleans and
In q glorious victory for the American
arms under General Jackson ts re-
called by MIR. Desdunes. when General
jackson addressed an appeal to the
patriotism Of the free men Of color to
take up and bear arms In defense OF
their country against the English. and
whose appeal was responded to cheer
fully by the free men Of color, who
fought side by side with their white
soldiers under the general-in-chief
and helped to carry the great victory
b the American side. m
! The nattering terms, Mr.. Desdunes
rays. In which the appeal to the pa
kziotic pride Of the free men OF color
were drawn, left not even the least
bit of suspicion Of the sincerity Of
General Jackson. The general was.
Mr.. Desdunes declares, II one judged
~ the terms of the appeal. convinced
that the free colored men had the
right to defend the country and that
The American government committed
- tn ROT, INC IN a
them under its flag as soldiers. This
declaration Of the illustrious soldier,
accepted in good faith, Mr.. Desdunes
says, provoked In all live enthu-
piasm, since no one doubted that 1t
was made in all candor and sincerity.
and the result was that colored pa
triots rallied in answer to the appeal
In great numbers. The value of their
services on the field of Chalmette was
nndeniable and beyond dispute. Mr..
Desdanes says, from the viewpoint
pf the national interest and national
honor, and after the battle General
Jackson not only complimented them
for their bravery, but declared that
their conduct was praiseworthy and
far surpassed his expectation. But
hers, Ar. Desdunss declares. all re-
ward ended. The men. he says. whose
fidelity and services had been thus
officially recognized and acknowl-
edged in % solemn manner, con-
hnued nevertheless to live under all
the disadvantageous conditions which
the customs Of the country impose
upon colored people, just the same as
II they had done nothing for the
country's honor and glory. It appears.
Mr.. Desdunes says, that they were
expected to content themselves with
the honied terms of the appeal which
had been made to them before they
went into soldierly action and with
the pompous but empty praise which
they received after their patriotic
bravery ON the field after the battle.
Later on. he says. those praises were
swan changed into covardly insinua-
lions and malicious calumny. Was it
not but just that those ignored and
nnappreciated heroes should COM
plain Of 20 much ingratitude? It IL
true that by tardy act. the govern
ment conceded to them the title Of
veterans and accorded to them tight
pension; but their civil status re-
manned unchanged and the same, a
mobilization Of the black code which
gavo to them the right to hive. to en-
10y, to possess and to succeed under
such discouraging circumstances.
OF course. under such condition Of
dependence, the colored creole could
not and did not command due respect
He became, Mr.. Desdunes says, an
object Of hate, Of contempt, or Of in
justice, according to the caprice Of
the day. All Of his rights were pre-
carious- we're modinable or ne
vocable. according to the pleasure Of
khe governing class. Mr.. Desdunes at
this point recalls Hippolyte Castro
who was one Of those unappreciated
cidsens, one Of those spurned heroes
and patriots sharing in the bitterness
Of the receptions Of which mention
has been made and Of which the col
orede creole was the victim. Mr.. Des-
dunes says the colored population
needed 1T the time one who could put
In yerSe and song, the sentiment Of
he spurned and rejected people. and
that It found IN Castra exactly the
man who could be compared with
Rouget and Dubois In that Line. Cas-
IN, hs says, had the happy faculty
and hns talent for giving expression
10 the sentiment Of his people. and
tie fidelity. the courage. and the valor
IL that superb colored creole pha-
lanx. found beautiful sentimental,
and very expressive voice in a song