Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-05-21
PoETIcAL
lac vow Of Washlngton.
JoHn GREENIIEF wniTr1ER's TRBu1E 10
THE FATHER OF Hrs CouNTRr.


The sword was sheathed; In April's sun
Lay green the fields by wisdom won;
And severed sections, weary of debates.
Joined hands at last and were United States.
o. City sitting by the sea-
How proud the day that dawned on thee,
When the new era, long desired, began,
And, in its need, the hour had found tho man I!
One thought the cannon salvos spoke;
The resonant bell.tower's vibrant stroke.
The yoiceful streets. tho plaudlt-echoing halls,
And prayer and hymn borne heavcnward from
st. Pauls
How felt the land In every part
The strong throb of nations heart,
As its great leader gave. with reverent awe,
His pledge to Union, Liberty and Law
That pledge the heavens above him heard,
That VOW the sleep of centuries stirred;
In worldwide wonder listening peoples bent
Their gaze on freedoms great experiment.
Could it succeed OF honor sold
And hopes deceived all history told,
Above the wrecks that strewcd the mournful
past,
Was tho long dream of ages true at last7
Thank God the peoples choice was Just,
The one man equal to his trust,
Wise beyond lore, and without weakness good
Calm in the strength of aawless rectitudel
His rule of justice, order. peace,
Made possible the worlds release;
Taught prince and serf that power is but a
trust.
And rule, alone, which serves the ruled, is just;
That Freedom generous is, but strong
In hate of fraud and selfish wrong,
Pretense that turns her holy truths to lies,
And lawless license masking in her guise.
Land of his love- with one glad voice
Let thy great sisterhood rejoice;
A century's suns DER thee have risen and set,
And, God be praised. we are one nation yet.
And still, we trust, the years to be
Shall prove his hope was destiny,
Leaving our flag with all its added stars
Unrent by faction and unstained by wars!
Lol where with patient toll he nursed
And trained the new-set plant at first.
Thewidening branches of stately tree
Stretched from the sunrise to the sunset sea.
And in its broad and shelterlng shade,
Sitting with none to make afraid.
Were we now silent. through each mighty limb.
The winds of heaven wonld sing tho praise of
him.
Our first and hest This ashes Ito
Beneath his own Yirginiau sky,
Forgive, forget, D true and just and brave.
The storm that swept above thy sacred gravel
For ever in the awful strife
And dark hours of the nations life,
Through the fierce tumult pierced his warning
word,
Their fathers voice his errfng children heard !
Theciange for which he prayed aud sought
In that sharp agony was wrought;
No partial interest draws its alien line
'Twixt North and South, the cypress and the
pine!
One people now, all doubt beyond,
His name shall be our Union bond.
We lift our hands to Heaven, and here and now
Take on our lips the old Centennial VOW.
For rule and trust must needs be ours;
chooser and chosen both are powers
Equal in service as in rights the claim
OF duty rests on each and all the same
Then let the sovereign millions, whero
Our banner floats in sun and air,
From the warm palm lands 70 Alaska's cold,
Repeat with us the pledge century old