New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-06-06
For tho Now National Era
THRICE CALLED, THRICE CHOSEN
BY GEORGE b, yAsHoN.

respectfully dedicated to The NATIONAL CoxvkxTIoy or
kPrbtIcAS PARIT for the nomination President held
~ rhisdephia, Pa June s, 1874
Twas in Columba's hour of utmost need,
| When fierce Secession's hand
mn Had vexed her much-loved land,
Through three long years, with sacrileeious
deed
Oft had her chosen chieftains failed;
OFT had her starry glories paled:
Yet never, mid the conflict dire.
Mid battles din and smoke and fire
Had her crest dropped, or lofty spirit auailed.
From snowy tent to tent
Still trustfully she went,
In hopes to find, among her warriors true,
That soldier brave
Whose sword might save
Tier cherished treasures from Rebellion's
Each martial record there she closely scan
ned;
And straight from out that gallant train.
Gifted of hand and heart and brain,
She chose the one best suited To command.
That fitting choice, Historic Muse attest.
There on thy scroll, guiding Columbia's quest,
Was many deed
Worthy of richest need;
Aye, many a deed
Whereof our children long shall gladly read.
While laurels bloom to crown acts brayely
done,
Their hearts shall proudly thrill
AT thought of captured DonelsOn;-
Shiloh, Port Gibson, aye shall be
Enshrined in their memory
With Raymond, Jackson, Champion
Hill;
And ever shall they dwell with fresh delight
On Eicksburg's fall and Chattanooga's fight.
And, still attest, that scarcely one brief year
Had rounded out the chieftain's high COM
mand,
Ere pallid Fear
And armed Treason fled the rescued land;
That through the Wilderness he cut his way
And held the foe at bay,
While, in obedience to his master mind,
The patriot forces
Pursued their several courses,
And calamity performed each part assigned,
III petersburg succumbed, till Richmond fell,
And Appomattox tolled Rebellion's knell.
Three tieeting years passed by.
Each blooming hill and plain
Concealed the battle-scar and stain
Meath bounteous crops and flowers of gor-
geous dye
Proofs of Prosperity's benignant reign.
Yet, in Columba's heart
Still lurked dread;
The hydra Treason might regain head,
Through polite deceit and crafty art,
Despite her triumphs in the field, her blood
so freely shed.
Then came the thought,
That to secure
The victory so dearly bought,
One course alone was sure.
And this, no untried way,
No first experiment;
For wisely had she in her earlier day.
With like intent,
Beckoned from Vernon's mount with
paOer hand
The illustriOus Father of the land,
AS its first President.
Swift as a word
Again twas thought and done.
To whom she erst had given the sword,
Gave she the highest civic crown,
And thus with dearest boon gifted a just re-
nOwn.'
And now, three years have flown away
Beneath the rule of him, twice called,
Twice chosen, to assume the sway,
When Union-lOving hearts stood all APP
palled.
Columbia! once again
Scan we'll the record of thy wOrthiest men;
For, once again
Doth darkly lower
For thee another trial-hour.
Yes, once again
a right choice must by thee be made:
my threatening perils are displayed,
Thy hopes, thy fears, are in the balance
weighed
In doubt are tossed; -
TIE good that thou hast gained
Must be for aye maintained,
Or be forever lost.
Oh! in this hour of fate.
Bethink thee of the one who twice hath served
the State.
Think of the good his civic rule hath
wrought
The midnight "Ku-Kluxu to submission
brought
The public debts decrease
The measures sought
10 lure the savage unto arts of peace
The councils bidding thoughts of war to
cease
The lands prosperity
And-best of all,
And wOrthiest of recall
The " fathers ," words in Independence Hall
Rendered well nigh verify.
For now, that equal freedom by them dreamed
Hath on the whole republic beamed,
And citizens of every race and hue
Claim now those equal rights to them by ma
ture due.
Think of all this, and then decide
Whom thou shouldst choose the ship of
state to guide.
To shape thy destiny,
Thine own exemplar be -
AS in the past, so let it now be done,
And treat thy GRANT cen as thou didst thy
WASHINGTON
Washington, ID. c., June 3, 1872.
NATIONAL