San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-01-02
PRIZE POEM BY X. +. MOORE.


Hail to all the LIGHT's dear patrons!
Hail to Eighteen EghtyNine!
May its light shine on forever,
'fEighty-Nine, - be most ben gn!
That its blessings may attend you,
And your skies be ever bright
Aid the Carriers with your Quarters
Cheer these Messengers of LIGHT.
Through the year in storm and sunshine,
They have hurled it at your doors,
Full of news from every quarter
News from home and On shores.
Sad adieus to friends departed
Tears for Eighteen Eighty Eight,
Which began in dire disasters,
Railroad smash-ups, horrors great;
Mine explosions, burning steamers
Mourning deep on land and sea;
Billiards. blasting fair Dakota
Grim old Winter on a spree;
Fire and flood consuming millions
Piles of precious treasured wealth;
But we here have had great blessings
PlenteOus harvests, perfect health.
Rain and sunshine shed their Jewels, =.
Richer than the golden sands; - =.
Richer than the mines of Sheba,
Coined by royal tOilers' hands: 9 -
Silky cotton, white and leecy,
Twinkling stars on fields of Toll.
Corn and wheat, the coins of Ceres
Tankards full of wine and oil.
Greenest grasses in our valleys,
Royal pastures on our hills,
Living waters, flashing gladness,
In our rivers. tanks and rillS:
Cattle by the hundred thousands;
Horses, heads and tails in air:
Sheep, with richest, burless tleeceS,
By the million, every where;
Favored land, aglow with promise;
Richest seen by mortal eye:
On our rivers there is mirrOred
Every picture in the sky.
Early in the year there rested
Shadows on the German heart
Sorrows for their royal Kaiser
Who had borne such noble part.
He had found his realm Kingdom,
And had left an Empire grand:
''Unser Fritz their prince so noble,
Took their scepter in his hand.
Short the reign of Kaiser Frederick
Deep the sorrow when he slept
With his royal crOwnless fathers,
While his stricken subjects wept.
Then the young, impulsive William
GTasped that proud imperial helm,
While each monarch fairly shuddered
Lest he might disturb his realm.
Here in this our land of freedom,
Our quadrennial storm again
Swept each state throughout the nation
In its wrath FREE TRADE was slain.
And our goddess-nOt in whispers
Said to General Harrison,
Take the WHITE HOUSE-guard my affairs
Rule the realm that patriots won
There are royal rights of manhood
Yet denied within the state;
There are freemen, yet in bondage,
And your peril still is great.
Anarchy, a deadly demon,
Is within your citadel,
Like old Satan in the garden,
With malice born of hell
There are vultures at the vitals
Of the Nation you would save,
You must Stay them, or you perish,
And so fill Nation S grave.
Here is duty for a freeman
Here. flag of holy cause
Hear the buglc blast for soldiers
Who will battle for just laws
List the tread Of coming millions
To the battle field of Truth:
Hear the strains of martial music
Cheering manhood stirring youth.
As that army marches onward,
There are laggards in the rear
Stragglers from its lusty column
towards falling out from fear
But the column marches onward,
With its banner in the sun,
Never fearing, never hating,
Till its victories are won,
And the laggards then are missing"
In the army's grand parade,
And the towards are diShOnOred.
When the grand awards are made.
Then young man grid on thy armOr:
Take thy stand by righteous RIGHT;
Bear her banner; fight her battle;
In her swing is magic might