Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-08-07
World Of Labor
AMAZING.

AWAklNG.
Hurrah! At last the game's afoot and
Weakened thousands come,
Charmed true, but stouter hearts ne'el
thrilled to tuck of drum:
We go to ask the question of all those who
claim to buy
Our Labor, if it should be SO; we want the
reason why
We don't know much, how could we, we
have toiled too hard and long.
Yet seems to us not difficult to tell the right
from wrong;
That ialer there in splendor lives, this
laborer in sty,
And we are here to-day, my lads, to know
the reason why.
We're canaillc; Oh! we know it, where
the crime and hunger meet
We live, we've friends in prison, and we've
won On the street;
Midst endless wealth, fruit Of our toll, the
children pine and die,
BY heaven the time is rotten ripe to know
the reason why.
We've stood it, yes we've stoodit, as twas
told with stolid stare,
Twas privilege for poverty to make the
mllionaire;
And il we toied not ceaselessly our wage
fund would run dry,
All, well, it's past, we want to-day to
know the reason why.
And priests will pirate of golden crowns in
other worlds of bliss.
The recompense that waits on us for misery
borne in this
But always our reward is in the distant
bye-and-bye,
And never one will condescend to tell the
reason why.
We're freemen, says the statesman, and
should meier feel discomfort,
For watching DER the humblest is the thing
called Parliament,
And all things will be right at last that now
are all awry,
But it seems long time coming, lads; we
guess the reason why.
They fix their rights Of property amidst
their slaves applause,
And there they are, immutable as Gods
unchanging laws;
Then say this is Democracy, and wink the
other eye,
But that won't do for us, my lads, we want
the reason why.
No empty phrase; no Orient breeze; of it
we've had our fill,
Why idlers loll in luxury, why should we
pay the bill,
Why theft is throned and diademed, while
honesty may vie
With Lazarus in misery; we want the
reason why.
Our empire and our commerce, and oui
flag and exc our Queen;
Poor foolsl Words satisfied us in the days
when we were green;
We guess day on what they're built,
and they must justify
Their claim to our allegiance or know the
the reason why.
The stored up wealth of ages by dead gen
erations made,
Is claimed by right of heritage or sanctity
of trade;
The right we here repudiate, the sanctity
deny,
And fearless hearts and willing hands will
show the reason why.
They've Science chained and Beauty tc
their golden chariot Wheels
The votaries of Art are crushed and sprawl
ing meath their heels,
Yet utter never mans protest, SO d
them, let them lie,
But we will have our freedom lads, OF
know the reason why.
They'd shape all men the image of theil
Moloch -Mammon God,
And all forsooth must bow to it and trem-
BILE at its nod;
But we are no idolators and from its throne
on high
We yet will hurl it headlong lads or know
the reason why.
They hate US and we know IT, ana tne
thought will frmer brace
Our nerves for Armageddon where we'll
meet them face to face.
If, when it comes, as come it will, tits cen
now drawing nigh,
We're not too nice or scrupulous, they Il
know the reason why.
Oh Yes, thank God, we're up at last and
Weakened thousands come,
Unarmed yet, but stouter hearts meier
thrilled to tuck Of drum;
The vanguard Of the mighty host who soon
will wiring reply
From the fears Of England's owners, when
1t asks the reason why.
j. Leslie in London Justice.
LONDON, ENGLAND.
.rao,, Eohton Cncfafu