New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-23
A POEM By STORY.

% Io , s g r.. e's'Ess s s sSS SS a
saw Of he landing Of Governor John EHdto0't
And pausing now, and looking round,
B0asting apart, can we afirin
That we are whole and sOuha'
Our large proud marches OF prosperity, .h
Abase our eyes and own, that while our growth
ms sn9 x my y, viytne az our brave stern youth
Flies low on wounded wlngsi
Alas the hymn 20 which our fathers trod
with even step, the inspiring CITY
with which they marched TO liberty,
Their trumpet note, Man only can be free
When he is lust 20 man and true to God
Virtue alone isIrue prosperity"
This wakes Taiht echoes in our bosoms now
Our faith is weaker, our desires more low
Let us be rich, we cry, wealth is the prize,
That Freedom, drugged with greed and luxury,
From the 81 stern virtues that fathers knew
We turn with easy sneeif, - .,.-.,,oh and Through
The trumpet tone that stirred them thiOuEu anu 'e
We can he bought and sod,--we have struck palms
With tTeaehery and fraud,
Dishonesty cOrrupts us with its arms
Aud Bribery haunts abroadi
sly KnaYery, disguised, prOwls like FOX
Around our politics;
The iuggler's hand is IN our baot-box,
While Office wins by tricks
The simple hon ely ways
We knew In early days
Have lost their zest and beauty IN our eyes,
, Corners, We have, and rings,
Where speculation hid In ambush lies
And on the unYary springs
New vices bred new names.
And in the public mart the bull and bear
Wrangle and fight and lie aud tear
AND commerce Tor swift advantage, games
Folly in diamonds leads the social dance,
Half dressed and over free.
With the fra brood OF wild Extravaganza
And reckless Vanity
Is this our great RepuOnci THIS the flower
OF that high faith our fathers planted heret
This the heroic spirit, and severe,
Are we so fallen, we neither care nor heed
Whittier our great Republic drifts, so long
As on lOtos flowers may lie and feed
And listen to COTruptions syren song,
Needless Of rocks and shoals that stretch before
Aud trusting only Luck In the time OF need
To hold the helm upon wild lee-shoref
What though our captain may be brave and rueI
Or those the highest trust who hold,
II mutneers are in the crew
And seuttlers in the hOldf
All no it is not written in the book of Fate
That needless as we are, and blind,
This GLORIOUS ship on which are set
The eyes, the hopes OF all MANKIND,
This great Republic, with its precious freight
This hope our fathers launched with hearts elate
With fears, and prayers, and sighss-
In clear and clOudess skies.
If the frail Mayhower could endure the stress
OF wind and tempest on It's vent1 ar SI way
With few to care and almost none TO oiess'
snail our strong ship for want Of worth and will,
Well-timbered, well-appointed, framed with SKILL
Founder at last through utter reckessnessf
Mol foreign war hath struck at us in vain,
We have withstOod the sterner, deadlier strain
We have worked out. with spirits stout and brave,
Through our hearts blood, redemption Tor the slave
Needless OF cost ana LIE.
We have cast of his chains into the sea,
And purged us of the curse OF slavery;
That we who deeds like this have wrought,
While In the bay Of peace we lie
Without q menace from the sky,
Should perish from internal rot
It is not that within our land
is lack Of spirit, brave and nigh
OF lofty magnanimity--
or pure heroic temper nc
For actions large and grand.
Who that behind shall cast his eyes
10 that sad page OF civil strife
It's faith that DER defeat could fly,
Its stubborn strength, ITS scOrn Of life,
Such temper can deny
tits the spirit of delay,
VIII save u.s. come what may
The apathy with which We see
Our country dearest interests struck,
Dreaming that things Will right themselves,
That brings dsmay.
Ills must put them right
Strip for the task, do the good work,
Labor with love unite
Fall into line, and hghtl
While half the honest, wise, and strong,
Apart in selfish silence stand
Hating the danger and the wrong,
And yet too busy to uplift their hand
And do the duties that belong
To those who would be free.
Our great Republic, soiled In name,
OF ruin and OF shane
Here then, upon this day
30 eOnseerate 70 memories Of the past
And hopes and fears that DER the future cast
A dim ana doubtful ray
call upon you, noble men ana true
High, low, young, old, wherever You may DO
Awake! arise cast of this lethargy
Your ancient faith renew,
And set your hands to do the task
That freemen have TO do
Cleanse the Augean stall Of politics
OF its foul muck Of crafts and wiles and tricks;
Break the base rings where commerce reeks and rots
PURGE speculation OF its canker spots
Drive on the cruel incubus that squats
Upon our sleeping country till II rise
Renewed in strength, with upward-looking eyes,
And forward 90 upon the path
Of high destinies.
II any love for liberty you bear,
il any prde in this dear land you share,
BY an that love and pride, pray you, swear
To set her free;
And make her record honest white and fail.
In sight Of all humanity.