The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-15
THE VOW OF WASHINGTON.
Poem by John G.. Whittier Read at
the Great Centennial Celebration.

Poem by John G. Whittier Read at
the Great Centennial Celebration.
The reading of the following poem by John
G. Whittier formed part of the Centennial
exercises at the Sub-Treasury in New York.
Mr.. Whittier's age and in6rmities prevented
him from being present to read his poem in
person:
The sword was sheathed: in Aprils sun
Law green the fields by Freedom 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 hadfcund the man!
One thought the cannon salvos spoke;
The resonant ball towers vibrant stroke,
The vciceful Streets the plaudid-echoing
halls,
from st. Pauls!
How felt the land in every part
The strong throb of Nations heart,
As its great leader gave, with reverent eve
His pledge to Union, Liberty, and Law!
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 strewed the mournfu
past,
Was the long dream of ages true at last?
Thank God! the peoples choice was just,
The one man equal to his trust,
Wise beyond lore, and without weakness
Calm IN the strength of hawless rectitudol
His rule of Justice, order, peace,
Made possible the worlds release;
Taught prince and serf that power is but
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 centrlry'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 factions and unstained by wars!
Lo! where with patient toll he nursed
And trained the new-set plant at first,
The widening branches of stately tree
Stretch from the sunrise to the sunset sea.
And in its broad and sheltering shade,
Sitting with none to make afraid.
Were we now silent, through each mighty
limb,
The wings of heaven would sing the praise of
him.
Our first and best his ashes lie
Beneath his own Virginia sky,
Forgive, forget o true and just and brave,
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 warn
Their fathers Voice his erring children heard!
The change for which he prayed and sought
In that sharp agong 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 need 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, where
Our banner floats in sun and air,
From the warm palm-lands to Alaska's cold,
Repeat with us the pledge century old!
OAE KNOLL, Danvers. Mass.