The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-08-06

MNSTT@f1M first American
@hENkh3~ writer of cam
[.ss.sS~E paign songs, and
Josephs has been
the first to distinguish himself in that
line during the present season of politi-
cal excitement.
Freneau, who was born i'll New York
city i'll 1852 and who died at Freehold,
N. j., in 1889, did his most effective
rhyming when about thirty years of age.
1t was then that he published his bitter
attack on Dunmore, q few lines OF which
read rs follows:
Though IA brute and a Ounce, like the rest OF
tie elan.
| can govern as well az most Englishmen cas-,
And ii I'm "a drunkard l still am II man.
Since those days that tried mems
souls the campaign song has undergone
u variety of transformations. Some
times it has been humorous, often bit
terly partisan. occasionally vague as TO
meaning and hating as to meter, but
nearly always intensely patriotic. Ia
decd it may be said of political rhymes
that have been set to music and sung by
millions that their nalac is legion, but
the vast majority have died with the 0c.
casion that brought them forth. Each
town or hamlet has had its poet, and
the strength of his production has usu-
ally depended upon the aptness of his
local reference. What was familiar il
Name during II heated political canvass
was not therefore always appreciated III
Maryland or Missouri. ''Tippacanoa
and Tyler Too the alliterated refrain
of one of the popular songs of the pres.
idential campaign Of $40, is probably
one of the most frequently recalled OF
the ancient lines.
Throughout the Republican songs Of
the day we find that the majority of the
poets are at one with the campaign ora
tors, and The words as well as the tunes
are generally those which the late war
made familiar. The Democratic sungs
are likewise III harmony with the
speeches made on the Democratic stump.
Charles G.. Halpine, OF as he was bet
ter known, Miles O'Reilly." was one o.
the versitierS whose songs and poems
generally met with a warm welcome.
and the rollicking style in which he
! ltIS tiIt tllIli{5tN oli YUM JUS ftlIl
chMltcd choruses is still remembered
Fo" instance:
SO, buys, u final buulcr,
While we all in chorus chant,
For our next president wen nominate
Our " Ulysses Grant.
If asked what state he hail, from,
This oar sole reply will b.,
From near AppGmattuN court house,
With it, famous apple tree,
Fer 'twa there to our Ulysses
That Lee gave w the fight.
Now, LOys, 10 Grant for president,
md sod defend the right.
Here is still another specimen.
When the White House changes hands,
And our general takes command,
md Our ching days and nights are fully
DER.
We viii lay our torches by
And uniting hand in hand,
swear The Union shall be strOn-'r than bci0!c.
Truup, tramp, tramp, the boys, etc.
a campaign song does not rely for it,
effectiveness upon the beauty OF cor,
rectn.ss of lis lines. Give it Il fetching
quality, and the man vino makes it will
have all ne satisfaction he wants. Dur
ing the Chicago convention Sam JoScphs,
of Pennsylvania. who has already been
referred 10. earned IL rare reputation by
starting II song that served 10 bring
the house down. Somehow he had
caught the mcioiy Of the baby song ir
the comic orcra Wang" which De Wolf
Hopper has made familiar, and on biz
way to Chicago lie RECALLED his 0clega-
ton with the lines, a. far so he could 70.
member them. su'0".Lipg after the fo,-
loving style:
Baby, baby.
Shes my darling baby,
TIP she goes,
Down she gocs,
La, Ia, la, Ia, Ia. Ia.
1t worn led The joyial singer that he
couldn't recall the last line. but the in,
-p;ration came TO him later on, ard
rushing INTO the Sherman House, Where