Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-05-21
PoETlcAL.
The Vow Of Washington.
5onn GRErN11nF wniTr1ER's ,rRlburE ro
FHE FATHER or HIS CoUNrnr.


Tho sword was sheathedi in Aprirs sun
Lay green the fields by wisdom woni
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 the man
One thought the cannon salvos spoke;
The resonant bell-tower's vibrant stroke,
The voiceful streets. the plaudlt-echoing halls,
And prayer and hymn borne heavcnward from
st. Paul'si
How felt the land In every part
The strong throb of nations heart,
AS its great leader gave. with revereut are,
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 1t auccced7 ofhouor sold
And hopes deceived all history told.
Above the wrecks that strcwed the mournful
past,
Was tho long dream of ages true at last7
Thank God tho peoples choice was just,
The one man equal to his trust,
Wise beyond lore, and without weakness good,
Calm in the strength of Aawless rcctitudO!
His rule of Justice, order, peace,
Made possible the worlds release;
Taught prince and serf that power is but q
trust.
And rule, alone, which serves the ruled, is justi
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 iu her guise.
Land of his lovol 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 It's added stars
Unrent by faction and uustained by wars
Lol where with patient toll he nursed
And trained the new-set plant at first,
Thewidening branches of a stately tree
Stretched from the sunrise to the sunset sea.
And in its broad and shelterlng shade,
Sitting with none to make afraid.
We're we now silent. through each mighty limb
The winds of heaven would sing tho praise Of
| him.
Our first and best Ibis ashes lie
Beneath his own Yirginian sky,
Forgive, forget, o true, and just and bravo.
The storm that swept above thy sacred grave
For ever in the awful strife
And dark hours of the nations life,
Through the fierce tumult pierced his warning
word,
Their fathcr's voice his erring children heard
i The change for which lie pray aud fougl
In that sharp agony was wrought;
No partial interest draws its alien line
'Twixt North and South, the cypress and tn,
/ pine!
One people now, all doubt beyond,
His name shall be our Union bond.
We lift our hands to Heaven. and here aud nov
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 soverign millions, where
Our banner floats in sun and air,
From the warm palm lands TO Alaska's cold,
Repeat with us the pledge century old