Morris tribune., 1889-05-08
Our Patriotic Songs.


diers of the revolution had only two
patriotic airs to march by. These were
"Yankee Doodle" aDd America
Neither Of these was American, but both
were English. America" was simply
the English "God Save the King" in a
new dress. yankee Doodle" was an old
English comic air to which American
words were also adapted. Thus barren
was the patriot ear and voice in '76.
In 1889 German named Feyles wrote
a patriotic air for Washington's inaugu-
ration called "The Presidents March"
In 1898 war with France was threatened.
Washington's old soldiers prepared to
gather around their leader and fight
once more. Under the patriotic in
spiration of the hour Joseph Hopkinson,
an eminent lawyer, wrote the words Of
the song "Hail Columbia. Hopkinson
was son of Francis Hopkinson. one Of
the signers of the Declaration. The
words of '.Hail Columbia" were sung to
the tune of ''The Presidents March," It
at once became patriotic national air,
our first one, be it noted. though the
music of even that was composed by a
German.
The war of 1919 brought us Francis
Scott Keys "Star Spangled Banner.
The air was the first to emerge from the
solemn and stately old rhythm of revo-
lutionary times into livelier, quicker
motion. But again the air was not new.
The words were adapted to the music OF
a popular song of the day called can
acreon in Heaven"
Not until the last war can we be said
to have patriotic songs in all respects
our own. Those four years of tragedy
and glory aroused all that was dormant
of both patriotism and poetry in the
American soul The song commonly
known as "Red, White and Blue" be.
ginning
Columbia, the gem Of the ocean,
The home of the brave and the free.
was by David T. Shaw. Both words and
music were by Shaw.
Another famous and thrilling wal
song was "The Battle Cry of Freedom
Yes Wen rally round the flag, boys.
1t rolled in great waves of sound from
every camp in the field and every fire
side at home. The rhythm is strong and
inspiring, and "Rally Round the Flag
will stand as one of our national patriotic
airs. Both words and music are by
George F. Root, a clear home produc-
ton.
Then there is sDixie Land" The air,
with appropriate words, ought certainly
to be adopted among our national songs.
It is better tune than Yankee Doodle. =
To the inspiring strains of all these
airs and several others the national
guards marched in the great centennial
parade in New York. We are rich
enough in national songs now to pity the
hapless heroes who went to their death
on bloody fields in ignorance of them
Nevertheless, the United States has moi
even yet any one distinctively national
air like the ''MarseiIaise" or "God Save
the Queen"
One more remains to be mentioned
the grandest of all, so strong and thrill
ing that it seems like an inspiration
Julia Ward Howe thought to write some
words to the air of the old hymn, "Glory
Halleluiah." She had heard the soldier
singing John Browns soul is marching
on, to this air. With only this though
in her mind she sat down and wrote tn
lyric of the civil war:
BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC
Mine eyes have seen the glory Of the coming o
the Lord,
He is trampling out the vintage where the grape
of wrath are stored; -
He hath Ioosed the fateful lightning of his terribl
swift sword,
His truth is marching on.
have seen him in the watch fires Of o hundre
circling camps, H.
They have builded him an altar in the evenin
dews and damps
L can read his righteous sentence by the dim an
faring lamps,
His day is marching on.
Ihave read fiery gospel writ in FURNISHED row
| Of STEEL
"As ye deal with my contemners, SO with you m
| grace shall deal;
| Let the hero, born of woman, crush the serper
with his heel,
Since God is marching on"
| Hehas sounded forth the trumpet that shall new
| call retreat,
| He is sitting out the hearts Of men before hi
| Judgment seat;
/ Oh, be swift, my SOUL to answer himi be jubilan
| my feeti
Our God Is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born acros
the sea,
with q glory in his bosom that trans6gures 20
| and me;
As he died to make men holy. Let us die to q
men free,
While God is marching on