Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-01-11
THE CARRIER
OF THE
EDW.4RDSVLLE SPECTATOR
OF THE


EDW.4RDSVILLE SPECTATOR
TO HIS PATRONS.
AGAIN. What must strike the harp again.
Another annual gratulative stranl
Why should raise the song of festive mirth,
When one year dies to give another birth
Or why rejoice that Time is Aeetng by,
When each expiring year cries, "Thou shall
diep'
'rwere wisdom to improve the New Years day
If all before pass'd unimproved away
Come then, my patrons-let the carrier-boy
lnpart grave lessons with his annual toy
Permit his humble, costo nary verse,
The past years varied history rehearse,
That "a gu y mem'ry you may shun the i'll,
And choose the good with less cratic skill
Yet think not will dare presume to give
Didactic demonstrating how to live:
mere SPECTATOR Of the passing scene.
tell not vay--but only .uhat has been.
Your ripper minds can, better far thanI,
i lie past events TO future life apply,
When, twelve months since, humm'd nv an.
nual song.
Deep party strife engaged the busy throng:
With burning zeal firm united band
Strove to spread slavery DER our fruitful land
While Reason, Virtue, Justice all combined
To deprecate this curse ofhuman kind.
How long the strife endured, how high il rose,
Its sad effect in turning friends to foes,
will not--nay need not pause to tell,
For ah you willremember but too well.
But now-when he unhappy conflicts DER,
And we need fear this goulest blot no more,
When Illinois so high has raised her voice
For Liberty-we surely may rejoice,
And say, as oft as we repeat the tale,
Truth--mghty Truth is great and will prevail.
Why do my thoughts, against my wishes, turn
To themes which every patriot must mourn
Fan would pass in silent sadness by
Thuse recent scenes that shunn'd the public
eye,
Where intrigue, lurking under shade of night,
Contriv'd the peoples fairest hopes to blight.
Shame on the man who wrongs sacred trust.
To crafty his own ambitious lust
Shame on the wretch. who, sent to frame the
laws,
Erects standard 'gainst his country's cause.
Who, though her voice has sounded loud and
clear,
Defics her anger and disdains to hear;
But " clad III brief authority unites
With kindred souls to trample on her rights.
And shall not he who thus abuses power,
Feel the sharp pangs Of an avenging hourl
Ay-let the recreant strive to lie concealed,
His secret ntrigues all shall be revealed;
And he. emblazoned with the traitors fame.
Shall be held up to everlasting shame.
Happy the nation where the people reign:
Inc powerthey give-they may resume again;
The fool elated by his transient sway
May Haunt the petty tyrant of day;
May barter vote for vote, and place for place,
But soon his glory ends in foul disgrace.
The people-ever jealous of their trust,
viii hurl the traitor to his Kindred dust:
Thus teaching Intrigue that his arts are vain :,
The state is safe where'er THE PEOPLE reign.
40 not our hearts with conscious Joy expand,
While DER our wide-extended happy land,
The people calmy-though with zeal engage
in choosing from among themselves sage,
Wise, virtuoas, bold, and able 10 direct
The helm Of state. and sil our rights pretectl
Is there wretch would rather bow the knee
10 lineai tyrants. than to live thus free
Rather submit to legitimate lord,
Than choose himself the man shall hold the
sword
why, let him bow to Ferdinand or George.
And dread the Inqusiton or the scourge.
we quarrel not with others sentiments,
But choose ourselves to make our Presidents
And hap'ly, though where there's 90 large /.
choice,
All cannot hope to gain the public voice.
Vet-iet the choice be fixed Cd whom il NAV.
we fear no tyrsnt's arbitrary sway.
What if our gallant hero win the 6ght
tA'' were 1t left to chance ofwar, he might y
Does any fear his martial proves would
= Hzs forth to joopara1e tho public coed!