Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-09-14

Who all are after place and pelf,
Each caring only for himself;
The "loaves and fishes" are their aim;
For them they'd barter honor, fame,
And all that good men care to hold
In higher estimate than gold
Though prone presumptiously 10 pirate
Of their devotion to the State,
Their love for "tillers Of the soil"
Their preference for "sons of toll,
And their affection for all those
Who eat plain food and wear plain
clothes
Provided the aforesaid folk
Have votes in ballot box to poke
Their loud assertions aud pretence
Are plainly false and void of sense.
For their DISCUSSES are "too thin"
Since, through them We can see the skin
Worn by them since earliest youth,
And thereby know ''the naked truth"
Relying on their party's name
The threadbare remnant OF its fame
These self-made leaders, whip in hand,
Presume to issue their command,
Which, when such overseers "hold
sway"
The people, must, forsooth, obey!
Oh! husband, how l hate that word!
"Must," said to freeman's most absurd;
1t smacks loo much of mastery!
IT'S tainted, dear, with slavery!
Heed it not, love! Dare be man!
Assert yourself, as well you can!
Cast to the wind all idle fears!
And stand erect among your peers!
All true Virginians, bred and born,
Iusliuctively such bondage scorn;
And, therefore, tbs with secret guise,
Its chains are hidden from their eyes;
For should single link be seen,
They'd soon be scattered well, ween.
When eer their confidence they give,
They give it frankly and believe
Implicitly in those they trust.
Generous, guileless, gentle, just,
They may be led by those they like
But dare TO drive them and they strike !!
Quick as lightning is their blow,
And quite as fatal to their foe!
Our State flag, when aloft unfurled,
Reveals a motto TO the world
Which is significant and true
Ard, husband, who will dare tell you
"No"inni ssmper iiberi
Is nothing but Haunting lie?
For moun,aineers are always free!
To Gesslers cap they bend no knee -
But pardon me, my husband dear,
l may have gone too far, | fear.
Forgive me il have expressed
The thoughts that shrugged in my breast
For utterance! Yet, when see
Men forging letters for the free
My heart revolts and l must speak,
Although my woman's words are weak
Thanks! M good wife, for what you've
said.
Your words are true; my heart and head
Agree with yours responsiyefy-
And as for "party livery"
Which now 80 frequently is made
A mere Disgusting garb to aid
Aspiring persons who're unfit
To fill the places where they'd sit,
My eyes are opened and see
lis but the badge of slavery!
For, now, TO ME its manifest,
That, in obeying the behest
Of self-appointed masters, we
The people, in our majesty,
Are made the victims, if not tools,
OF caucus hupkies and their fools
Of whom some are but half. t1edged boys,
AS full as empty casks of noise,
Who, having "got by heart" a speech,
Hop up on stumps and twitring screech
Like little tomtits on rail,
Who wiggle-waggle head and tail
Telling their elders how 10 vote,
In cuckoo phrases got by rote;
"Stick to your party right or wrong"
Is one burden of their song;
The other is in harmony,
"Vote always for the nominee
And thus, for those who have no claim
Upon US but their party name,
We are commanded 10 submit
Our wills to fellows who're unfit
To carry entralls to bear!-
Excuse the vulgarism, dear!
So that, while parties do exist,
There is no reason, insist,
That those composing them should be
Subjected to such tyranny!
For citizens, when thus controlled,
Are virtually bought and sold!
Sometimes, indeed, It's said, alas!
Our voters are transferred, en- musse,
Here 10 this mountain, war-born State,
From candidate to candidate
Years in advance the bargains made,
Consigning them, in way of trade,
From hand to hand, as cattle are
BY owner to purchaser
The voters, innocent of guile,
And unsuspecting all the while,
Are secretly transferred without
Their knowing what the trades about.
In due time convention meets,
And as each wire worker greets
His coadjutor, winks sld smiles
Betray the consciousness of wiles
And the success of hidden tricks
That now disgrace our politics,
Which indicate that nothings lacked
To make sure the conventions packed"
The sspiraut in training, who
Long has been seeking to get through
Some such convention, now appears,
As heretofore, in former years,
When so persistenily he's tried
But always had to stand aside
And let another take the prize,
On which he'd fixed his longing eyes.