San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-12-16

stanzas, written mainly III the year 1910
While strive she votarles OF worldly care,
Diverse in station, but alike in woe;
whether the human worm be Plenty's heir,
Or. herding with the swine, and grov'llng low
subsist on what his fellow worms bestow;
While foul Oppression wastes this earthly ball,
And the reused People, rushing to and fro.
For vengeance on their brutal tyrants call,
I sing the stalwart Pow'r-the vctim-lor Of all.
Let angry factions at each other rail,
And demagogues pollute fair Freedoms shrine
The huablo tenant Of the rural Oate
Heeds not reproacb, in virtues cause divine:
| What though unknown, unhonor'd Is his linei
igh heaven disclaims distinctions weak and vain
The stars that on Columbia's banner shine,
Attest the virtues Of the rustic train.
Whose honest toll and worth their lustre still sus-
| tain.
Then let It not be said our matchless land
Is recreant to Labor's slighted cause,
That her free sons, with weak and nerveless hand
Shrink basely thus from God and natures laws:
| No; honest Labor has pow'r which draws
Tie homage OF each high and generous mind;
calm, a holy majesty which awes,
More than the empty pageantry designed
To win the gaze OF fools to tyrsnts OF mankind.
How glorious is his train in evry agei
How noble are their goings. forth earth
Who shine the brightest on the historic page
For mighty energy and ma,chless worth
The sons Of La bor--from creations birth
Their names are first on Honor's sacred scroll;
Noby they stand, amid the general dearth
OF useful arts, ard dignity Of soul,
Which else had spread uncheck'd, from distan.
pole to pole.
To deIve the mIno, TO turn the stubborn soil,
To rear the dome, to ply each manly art,
To prompt the hardy navigstor's toll,
To guide his course with compass and with chart;
To form the soul that firmly walks apart,
In converse with its own immortal powers,
To raise the genius and to mend the heart, -
These are the pastimes of stern Labor's hours.
Dispensing Health and JOY, like summer dews and
showr's.
Yes, ev'ry bliss luxurious Plenty shares,
Is wrung from honest Labor's hardy hand;
He, nobly, ev'ry pain and danger dires.
To guard the welfare Of his native land;
Meantime, complacent Pride holds high command.
And spurns him from his presence with dsdain-
Brands with repIoach the self-denying band,
Who all his high o'erweening state sustain
As only it to toll. his grandeur to maintain.
Thus, Heav'n's behest, alike enjoin'd on all,
Alike essential to the common good,
Is wrested by Oppression's hateful thrall
To nourish up base and worthless brood,
On others tolls. and groanE, and tears OF blood;
Thus huts and palaces, commingling. risA.
And thus, while starving millions beg for food,
Accused Greed, unmindful OF th,ir cries,
With glaring, wastsful pomp insults th' avenglng
skieli
Long suffering Labor Genius sublime
Thou moving spirit Of the social ststel
And isthy hardy usefulness a crime,
Deserving thus slaves or felon's fatei
when shall ascend the high, the immortal date.
when Man shall rise In outraged Freed om's might
When fell Oppression. and relep tless Hate,
: ball yield at length 10 Reason AMI TO Right,
And sink to deepest hell, aud realms Of endless
nighti
Then shall fair Earth, mans common heritage,
No more be shared among the favor'd lew,
while helpless innocence, and hoary age,
Perish to pamper Lnxury's useless creu;
Then Ehn's seris, and BritAin's men true.
Shall share the manor which their toils sustain
The sFrenehmsn .blitbe the sports pursue'
v nieh crown ths vintage on his native plain;
ADd EurOpe-Earth forge. oppreSsiOn's bloody
reign.
Be Il ours to teach this lesson to mankind,
sOns Of cOlunbis, generous and bravsi
That the oppress'd. down trodden. lsb'rinE hind,
Is not = block or brute, nor Jet a sisve;-
But, that the being that his MAKER gave.
e high and holy in the sight o. Heaven,
Beside the titlsd, panpsr'd. worthless tnsvs,
sJ brutal appsiitss and passions driven.
DO lives sbt dies IN sn eoafrH'd, and snforgivsu
8s u ourt 10 -ssb cur yailty sisins s-ay,
Ans gusrs 90 LIE, osr chsrter q the Right:
ibins forth %. Noruiug star q Frsstsm's Day
he lot ~orid's Beseoa MD Opprsssiss's nlgst- 4
IN al Der hssts join hanes sta lsrirs uiEht.
Ass ssusl sbsrs ths Toll ssi ia Rsvars.-
Thsa sbslI fhs Esrih rssuns bsr sssisni Hght.
lns al d. ssns = Gsi. -ith Eiss s.osrs.
iy-n Trutb's trianphEut r-sy-EsrthS Psrssiss
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