The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-01-16
From the Columbia REGISTER.
THE PRESENT AGE.
us TIE U. S.l

Is not cnough'to make u scribler vain.
My subject is wide, extended field,
And needs nobler pen than this WELD,
But. notwithstanding, let me have my "say,"
AS every dog, you know must have his day.
So let me in, hear II and let me die
A short-lived creature rs the butterfly
a scribbling "bubblc," born to burst when
seen,
BE this my cpitaph, 'The man was green"
80 tcmpord but I'll not blame the times,
80 hnoTcs!" be the subject of my rhymes;
But times and manners are the peoples own,
And from their sentiments these take their tone;
To say the truth, then, if speak my mind,
Like many others, I've some fault to find
But would strike the root of all the evil
The heart of man, assisted by the Devil.
Not of ono man, nor set of men, I'd prate
And hold them answerablc for the State;
Its politics, its morals aud its purse
The people keep, and they alone dishurse.
in writing therefore, you II not think it strange
If from the usual order shall change
Aad criicisc in this, my brief address,
The people, politicians and the press.
The people arc the first that I would mention
For they, indeed demand our chief attention
In them the cause of all our trouble lies,
With them the remedy if they are wise
Their rulers are their servants, and they all
Must move obcdicnt to their II astcrs call.
AS for the press, that we will ever find
Is but the index of the public mind;
ii shapes, indeed, the unshapel sentiment
But seldom varies from the peoples bent,
And frequently, while it pretcnds to lead,
Its ideas from its followers proceed
First, of intolerance l would complain,
That, least Of all, our character should STAIN
We who OF our free institutions boast,
OF real freedom should possess the most
Respect opinion, wherever found,
SO il be held upon an honest ground;
Allow to all what each may claim himself,
Nor pcrsccute for place or power or pef.
Instead Of this, the burden Of our song
IS, 'wc arc right, and all who differ wrong;
Down with the opposition, we alone
Deserve the marrow of the national bone;
We are the patriots, liberty is ours,
And we will rest beneath her shady bowers;
We "hV were nurturrd fu the goddess lap,
Alone deserve the governmental pap.
Leave not to our opponents any room,
For we would start n patriotic "boom'
And let them feel the power of our wrath,
For reformation follows in our path
We only seek our glorious country's veal,
While Mcy desire to plunder and TO scal.'
Each party seems to have the same design,
Itself to praise, the others to malign;
And in their zeal, they seem to lose the sight
vi CoiH!nOn SSou, VI Jus'lSN VI
We who would sec our common country thrive,
Can we subscrvc the purpose while we strive?
Would not this precious time be better spent
If to our countrys service il were lent ?
By each well acting our several parts
In agriculture, commerce. or the arts?
In good works, let each with the other vic,
But not to abuse, malign and vllify.
Whenc CT we cease tongue and pen war TO wage,
Then we may we'll expect a better ''agc."
A check on sel6shncss, think. we need,
On love of power and avaricious greed;
For these vile passions seem TO have gained con.
troll,
And rule, indeed, our nations very soul.
Time was, when noblcr passions herein stirred,
And ..liberty forever" was the word
That was the one grand object paramount
And all things else were deemed of small ac-
count.
Il true desire the country's gool TO serve,
Prompted each thought and quickencd every
nerve;
No selfish sections nuibbes then arose.
And none "to spite their face bit off thcrnose." ."
The love of country, liberty and truth,
Filled every bosom in our nations youth
But now advanced in life a hundred years,
Having grown strong, we have dismissed all
fears,
Forgetting union is our only strength,
Our human nature gaining ground, at length
Each faction has its separate rights TO assert
And to abuse the rest, is on the alert;
And while for section interests we fight,
We cease to battle for the common right.
Our highest purpose and our greatest care,
Seems that each section scramble for its share
OF power, and of money and of place,
Zen il we lose our honor in the race.
Ti..o ao~o 80 IN, '-S -"''Vo In "Gc,
We grow more grasping, but are not so sage;
And avaricious passi ms ovcrpower
rl,o oc L ln,l1n etr MI
tower.
All oYcjudicss we should far remove
They hurt the interest of .the land We love-"
Believe all seek the country's greatest veal,
Think all men honest till you know they steal
Think each man sensible, and may be wise,
Think each man true, until you know he lies
Expect not anywhere to find q fool,
Look for philosophy in every school;
Think not that men in any single place
Bring but dshonor to the human race,
Nor that within the bounds Of any State
Is absence of the true, the good and great.
Judge not people by the few you know,
Think not present friend on ancient foe,
But look upon the cttcr side of all
Extract the sweet, leave undisturbed the gall.
Think not a sections line, party name.
Bound all that's wsrthy honor, praise and fame
Root out all prejudice from your mind,
lie reasonable, charitable, kind.
Our lands infested with great (?l drma"nnuos
Which below out high-sounding lies, to lend
Assistance to some present private end.
Time-serving men, unscrupulous Of aught
Fave that which love Of filthy gain has taught
Who flaiter prejudice, encourage hate,
To help their purses, c'er imsaiia!e;
While all the time they Justify proclaim
Their lsve of honor and the country's fame.
o! for the spirit of n better day,
That better principles nay here hold sway
for the end of this distressing dearlh
OF leading men of sterling moral worth.
Oh give us leaders who will truly lead,
And not be lead by prejudice and greed
Oh give us statesmen" Of the olden times
Inhnnnhl by dollars and nnmnYel by dimes.