Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-01-06

| In the Old Years pond'rous tome,
| And my muse begins to worry,
As the crowded items come.
| Too much labor-can not do 1t,
So we leave the cd world out,
Turn alone to our Columbia,
| sAs the theme to talk about.
Alb, what murmur now arises,
Floats from lakeland In the airs
IT'S the gathering at Chicago,
IT'S the great columbian FAIR,
Twas tribute to Columbus,
Uncle Samuel had to pay,
And he did the job as usual,
In the most successful way.
Twas mighty exhibition,
And panoramic view,
OF all people, arts and science.
And of wealth and progress too
In the line of World Fair matters.
Uncle Samuel's now ahead.
Leads oil nations in procession,
Like giant in his tread
Alb, the records growing darker
What's the matter.--I declare,
| Hard times hold in grip the nation,
Like grizzly mountain bear;
Pinching all the viens of commerce,
Stopping work on every hand,
Closing furnace, mill and fact'ry
Paralyzing all the land.
| Where's the good times Grover promisedf
Rather guess we've got them now,
| Ask the merchant In his storehouse,
| Ask the farmer at the pillow;
Wheat at sixty cents per bushel,
Wool at fourteen cents per pound,
Banks agoing Democratic.
That is bursting all around
Laboring men are without labor,
And their families begging bread;
special session called of Congress,
"Too much silver" Cleveland said.
"Too much silver Y' shouts the workman,
"Haven't got single dime;
Too much tinkering with the tariff
Is the trouble at this time"
Thirty years protection fiourished,
And the nation flourisbed too;
Now year of free trade threatened,
AS experiment, will do;
Yes, the masses understand it,
Feel it in their very bones,
And elections in November,
Gave out no certain tones.
In New Jersey and Ohio,
In New York and Iowa.
Everywhere the people Numbered,
enough of Democratic sway"
| Will the leaders heed the lessons
No, but with an iron will,
Wilson, Cleveland, both keep working
To repeal Mckinley Bill.
Coal and iron both free listed,
And free lumber tackled on too,
| Do the people of our mountains,
| Want such measures crowded through?
"No," the people loudly answer,
| From each fact'ry, mine and shop,
| West Virginia once in earnest,
Calls her congressman to stop.
Did you ever see such blundersi
Blunders of the highest grade,
Such as Cleveland, the s'stuffed prophet"
IN our government has made.
In the sandwich Island matter,
| Such mistakes were never seen,
| There he fights the new republic,
| takes the side of dusky queen
| And about our soldiers pensions
Should such treatment we expect,
TO those MANNED and crippled soldiers,
From the President elects
But that partv always blundered,
And the nation knew it we'll,
Blundered bad with James Buchanan,
AS our history's pages tell.
| And for many years the people,
| Watched the Democratic crew,
| Knew it was not safe in office,
Knew what mischief it would do.
| But the people grown forgetful,
| In thoughtless evil hour,
| After many years probation,
| Put that party back in power.
| Well, the people won't forget it,
| But like raven hove the door,
When that party asks for office,
Answer weirdly, "Never MORE,
Here old santa gan to nudge me,
| Bade me turn to local themes,
Matters bout our town and county,
Solid stuff, not made of dreams.
| Martinsburg, the dear old city,
| Where the Tuscarora flows,
| Still in wealth and solid progress
And in population grows.
Why, there stands q. S. Courthouse,
Handsome structure, near complete,
With post-eflce, making building,
An improvement safe and neat.
| New electric plant, and better
Than the old electric light,
Soon will drive from street and alley
Every vestige of the night.
Courthouse papered and repainted,
What place for lawyers prayers,
In their bills they're always praying,)
Outside cuss while witness swears.
All, what sight is that next followss
Old Jail once felon's pen,
Now is raised to nobler mission,
To the aid of dying men.
The sKing's Daughters honor to them,
| Higher mission, none to-day,
thanks TO them for aiding Forster,
Our old friend now passed away.
New jail building just completed,
Is conducted very well,
Outside showy-neat appearance
Inside strong in lock and cell.
City Council stops the streets cars,
Takes the company's charter, too,
Mayor Nc. controls that body,
Tells its members what to do.
school election was one sided,
r. TUr t Deraocrat would run,
Leaders took their holes and Kept them,
Couldn't stand our gatling gun.
Next for Mayor, we win fight them,
4 Whoop them up and make them show
What became Of all that surplus,
THAT our treasurer had, you know.
; Next in order are our papers,
Il Tell the diffrence-will not try
'Twixt their liability,
And ability to lie.
First the INDEPENDENTS standing,
! As 1t always stood before,