The National tribune., 1890-11-20
THE O. A. r.
BY WALTER N. LKMAN.

lDcdieIted TO Lincoln Post, No. l. Department. Of
California;
When Uncle sam was doing in his cushioned easy
chair
In the period autccedent to the bloody civil war.
When the Yankee eagle shut his eyes and folded
up bis wings,
When human souls were chattels and negroes only
things;
When Sosthcrn votes we're bought and sold like
Southern cotton bales.
When Grant was busy tanning hides and Lincoln
splitting rails,
Then everything was lovely and nothing went
aitr,
And none thought then there would be need for
the GAR.
When cotton lords on Northern tours, with eonde-
seeUGing talk,
Played poker with the Yankees and heeced
them in New York
When Southern danes wore diamonds on their
breasts and in their ears
Bought with wOnan's degradation, and misery
and tears
And with high-toned gallant gentlemen rolled Off
In coach aud four
To board the ocean steamer FOR the European tour
All was serene and lovely and no one thought Of
war,
Nor dreamed there would be need for the GAR.
When the bonds OflOve and Union that we're woven
by sires
Were strained by angry faction; when the hot con-
OF ambition and dislOyalty with all their kindred
woes
/ Took possession Of our brethren and turned them
/ into foes;
When they strove to rend the temple and madly
/ dared TO drag
In the gutter Of disunion the Nations starry flag.
/ pest from afar,
/ Said to themselves I'VE shall have need for the
GAR"
When hateful lust Of Iucre and baneful thirst for
Usurped the throne Of reason and madness ruled
the hour;
When oligarehs let loose the tide and turned its
/ bitter waves
To food the land Of Freedom and leave den Of
slaves
Then patience, lOngenduring, turned, resolule at
| last,
And said "Thus lar, no further, for God the die
/ Is cast"
/ Then the Nation met the ISSUE and In answer from
/ alar,
/ Came the volunteering thousands Of the GAR.
The awakened eagle spread his wings. aud with
defiant eye,
Gazed at the coming tempest as it swept along the
sky.
/ Dark grew the Heavens, "a on it came the mutter-
| ing thunder rolled
The storm cloud burst upon the land, and lavery's
knell was tOlled.
/ And when the sun Of victory shone out in splen.
dor bright.
And when the day was darkest, amidst the head
I long fight.
Come veal or woe, come life or death, on ON, ON
/ with the war
Union and Liberty J" the battle cry Of the GAR
When victory came. as come it must 70 every cause
that's just
And the banner OF rebellion lay trailing In The dust
The father Of the soldier, that truest man of men,
Lincoln, whose like we nevermore may look upon
/ again;
Who never spoke but for the right, or did deed
! OF wrong.
Went up to God with words Of love and peace upon
| his tongue;
And there he dwell5 forever, and from the gates
| ajar,
Looks down with love and blessing. on the GAR.
The flags of battle purchased with the blood Of
heroes slain
The trophies of the Union with the victors viii
J remain-
And the post-bellum heroes Of the cause that
May disgrace with rebel drapery the form of
But they cannot unmake history, nor the viii of
God repeal,
/ Nor will they get by scoding what they couldn't
| win with steel,
Apd the vapors Of their last ditch can never dim
star
| In the galaxy Of glory, round the GAR.
SAN FRANCsCO. July 81, 1890.