The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-05-21
A MONUMENT TO
FAITHFUL SLAVES
An Inmate Eloquently Reviews
the Condition of Slaves Before
the War and Suggests More
Lasting Memorial Than Stone.
By "Tmlame" -4S77

"A SuOTC Willie ago Tcdu du dfLICl0
which stated that the Daughters of
the Confederacy were contemplate
ing the erection, in several southern
cities, of monuments in commemora-
ton of the faithful slaves that pro-
tected the homes of their masters
during the civil war.
laid the paper aside and leaning
back in my chair closed my eyes
and thought Of those loyal uncom-
pensated servants. l tried to pic
ture something appropriate that
would perpetuate their remem-
brance; consequently my thoughts
wandered to the various monuments
| had seen, trying to select one,
from which | could form model.
BY queer coincidence, one mon
umen; stood out conspicuously in
my review and caused another line
of thought to arise; that of war; the
monument of Robert E. Lee at New
Orleans. 1t is an imposing piece of
art, consisting of an immense bronze
statue supported by marble column
some one hundred and twenty-five
feet high resting on base formed
of huge blocks of granite. 1t over
looks broad avenue with central
area-way filled with semi-tropical
plants. and lined on either side by
palatial residences.
AS | stood, in my imagination,
on the plinth of the column
thought of one of The greatest SOL
diers of our modern world. With
my psychic eye l saw him at Get
tysburg, standing on ar imminence,
looking down on the Valley of Geth-
semane;I saw him at Antietam bear
ing the Stars and Bars 1 saw
him at Nashville where the infan-
try of snow and the cavalry of the
wintry blast routed his legions. |
| saw him at Vicksburg in the role
of an Agamemnon, and finally at
Appomattox Court House, defeated.
but with manly dignity and courage,
surrender to Gen. Grant. thought
of the cause he had championed.
slavery, and the primordial factor
in that cause.-the black man. and
the scene shifted.
Horrors of Slavery
was walking along the banks of
of Bayou La Fourche, and the
sound of groans and the tinkline of
chains reached my ears from the
slave quarters. I heard the fall of
the lash and the cries for mercy. |
saw the black man in the marts be-
ing bartered and sold as though he
were dumb beast. | saw him try
ing to escape that bondage, and saw
the hunted expression on his face
as he heard the baying of the
hounds. [ saw the babe torn from
it's mothers breast, irrespective of
her mother-love, and sold into
bondage miles away, probably never
to be seen by her again. I saw
that black man undergoing those
barbarous physical tortures known
as the boat the ant-hill' and
the barrel" | saw the veteran of
servitude, musket in hand, standing
at the door of his master. protecting
his wives, sisters, daughters and
mothers from a vicious sOldiery
whilst that master was away fight
ing for cause that would keep him
IN bondage. l saw him remain
staunch and true through adversely,
sharing his last crust with his mas
ter. after warfare had impoverished
him, sacrificing his liberty on the
alter of faithfulness.
Loyalty and Duty
In the midst of these reveries an
evil genii whispered in my ear
Ignorance" but his voice was
drowned by host of good genii
crying, Loyalty" stability" "duty''
love-" and l said, l would rather
have been that slave and worn
chains, l would rather have been
that black man setting before my
cabin with the morning glory vine
over the door, my children on my
knee and my wife beside me knit
ting, as the sun went down. l would
rather been that black man and gone
down in tongueless silence to the
dreamiess dust than to have been
that imperial impersonation of force,
misery and oppression known as
Robt. E. Lee, and if Lee,
deserves a monument of bronze on
a pedestal of marble and granite for
the cause of people
that honored him-nay worshipped
him, that slave who threw freedom
the right to bear arms to gain that.
freedom away, for duty and stabili-
tvs sake. deserves a statue of effnl-