Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-07-13
rake.wItA me Brother Jonathan, retrospective

4
It never claimed perfection, II only asks to be
Tho refuge ofthe homeless, the birthplace of the
free,
Not many hundred years have passed, since many
beacon light,
And Indian coureil Are cleaned from valley and
from hight;
But TO changel the cleaning fires, faded one by
one,
And the red m ad sought another home, toward
the setting sun.
An. hapIess racel a tear should fall above the
nameiess graves,
Where in the brotherhood Of death, reposc thy
countless braves.
And Brother Jonathan, hast thou with honest
heart and true.
Done 10 that faied fading race thou wouldst
have them doY
Does the red man looking backward, with sad
proachful face,
Regard thce, Brother Jonathan, rs a foe unto his
race?
Or does he leave his hunting grounds, without n
tear or sigh,
And bless the hand that smites him, and the pow
or that bids him die?
Butjusl or unjust, wright or wrong, old things
have passed away.
Like the shadows OF the evening, like the misis at
break OF day.
Then Brother Jonathan, Thy wished for triumph
came,
And spark from Freedom s tndcr set thy spirits
In a fame.
Twas right with might conicndIng, the right the
And our eagle then SCARED upward, for the nrst
time TO the sun.
The ON TmRrrrsl God bless them, they baitled
In the van,
In the sanguinary struggle for the dearest rights
OF man.
This tagging world shall bless them, in happier
times than these,
When the rallying shout of freedom shall be
heard on every breeze.
Not now, my Brother Jonathan, another age must
sec,
The dawning Of the day, when the nations shall be
free.
When the war and tumuli- vexing this stormy
world shallccasc,
And the bIllows OF commotion be hushed 10 rest
and peace
When prisons shall bc tenantless, and thrones
without their kings,
And the very ciouds-a truce TO this-r fear
have separtsd,
Like some unskilfal traveller, from the path on
which started.
Once could the tyro follow his subject by is light,
Pursuing itas wanton boys, chase hrs-nies at
night.
But moon eyed modern science hath for our scr.
vice brought
model mcnia railway, with its answering train
OF thoughr
which may nave onward TO to the goal, or safely
trarel back,
But to fro, or swif, or slow, It must not leave
the traek.
We have thee, Brother Jonathan, when the
batue strife was Ger,
Gaze on the land by valor won, and speculate for
more.
Add state to state add star to star, and thy tri
umphs Just begun,
Already on that azure field are gllitering thirty
one.
LoEg may they shine as bc acons In tho nigh, en-
shrouded skies.
Until upon our ransomed world, ono hoilcr light
shall rise
Now gaze we from some fancicd height upon the
scene below,
The plains and broad savannahs from Maine, TO
Mexico,
Behold the restless millions as they hurry 10 and
fro,
Tho tide OF life seems moving Ike the blllows OF
the sea,
As restless and as weariless rs iImtIess and free
The winds rage above them, the hollow tempest
raves,
Cd waves
1 a..I A. AL Ia "a
| Ing tides
In the soandless depth. beneath them, eternal
ealm.abIdes.
A storm may rise and threaten, tho hurricanes
/ may blow.
Tho surface will be rothy, but the depths be calm
| below,
Thcn brother Jonathan fcar not tho threat OF pie
bald faction.
Tho urion II Ia one; each state Is but fraction,
We are broken like ia billows, but one like the
sea-
Ono destiny attends us, ono fate for all shall be.
ff e'er the kncli cf doom should 20 peaiiug o'cs
the wave,
And tho genius Of our freedom ind nm guomIn-
ious grave,
Tho hand that wieids the dagger, the arm that
daros 10 smIic,
Must belong 10 somo traitor. TO freedom nj d "a
right,
We fear no outward pressure, 'twsuld vain and
useless be.
As wron xerxes told his mInlons 10 go and nop
the sea;
The snarling dogs of NIL tho world. bark Mt the
moon for spite,
But 10! unhccding In the Heaven still shines the
queen OF night.
The arch Of solid masonry from keystone to IN,
base,
Isby the downward pressure held armly In tn.
place.
All the barb that strikes oureaglc, mnst be feather
J ed from It's wing,
And traitor hand must loosen the arrow tron th'
string;
Then while you seem In safcty ever keep wat Oh
fui eye,
Aud Ike Cromwell, trust In Providence, but keep
your powder dry.
The ssrfcshe toll for liberty Is scarcely yet be.
gun,
And letaefisn be the waich-word ofcvery mother,
son.
The ancIen. teamsior In the gutter, called on Jove
10 move his cart.
And the Idle fellow waited vainly to SEQ hi, oxen
start.
Then the thunder rcbuked that unconscl enable olf
For Providence will only help, tho one that help,
himself.
! And you my Brother iona than, may ask tho SOW
crcign care,
To move tho wheel, forgetting no, to place ysu,
shoulder there,
Tho flames Of liberty would pale, Its cmbcr'
, would expire,
shonid those who love is sacred light give no fuel
TO the nre.
And should somc lazy miller fold his arms In slolh
r ful peace,
Ere long tho eonvoutlons OF the busy wheel,
b would cease.
Then aet-ahd labor for yonr country, with fear
less heart aud free,
Remembring endless vigilance the price OF lib
: erty.
II there be any useless drones IN the govern en NJ
nj hive.
Let them be banished instantly tha, the homes
: ones may thrive.