Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-04-19
For the Courier
Tho Lions Share-Can We Foruet

For the Courier
Tho Lions Share-Can We Forget
Tho lion strong and donkey dull,
With little fox of cunning full,
a brief alliance formed one day,
TO scour the woods in search of prey.
The chase exciting had a run,
From carly dawn to set of sun,
And the result was such sight,
AS sharpcncd each ono's appetite.
The lion, feigning to be fair,
The donkey told to fix each share,
And he quic', thought it would be wise,
TO make three shares of equal size.
Determined full, to show fair play,
lie made division just that way,
When suddenly, rs quick as thought,
The lion slow BIN on the spot.
To Roynard, then, tho duty came,
OF sharing out the gathered game,
Who quickly said, "My wants are small
The king of beasts shall have it allr'
"Wcll said" replied the lion great,
"iou saw the foolish donkcy's fate.
And it's mark Of wisdom rare,
To recognize tho lions share"
Great Britain, with her flag unfurcd,
That ilaunts the lion ruund the world,
Proclaims to all, DER l.,,d and sea,
The lion in diplomacy
The treaties that she makes arc rare,
That don't reveal "thc lions share"
Adjusted by her dcxtrous hand,
TO fill her purse and stretch her land.
The old time maps, now laid away
Made Russian America
The northern bound of Oregon,
vast DOMAIN, then all our own.
Our northern line of latitude,
At iifty-four and forty stood,
Until diplomatic combine,
Removed it down to forty-ninc!
Five full degrees and fraction more,
Along the great Pacific shore,
We lost entire by treaty new,
In eighteen hundred forty-two.
This vast land grab from Oregon,
The British gained through Ashburton,
Who, over Webster playcd the boss,
And forced upon us this great loss.
Dan'l Webster was exceeding great,
On floor of Senate in debate,
But in diplomacy was led,
And seemed to lose his massive head.
He was convivial in those days,
And Ashburton helped on his ways,
And found him yielding to demands,
Like plastic clay in pottcr's hands.
The line OF seventeen ninety three,
Near all its length, as now we soc,
Was changed to give the British more,
For Webster feared the lions roar.
In vain, cold Bullon," in tho right,
Cried, "Ffty-four forty, or fight"
The deed was done beyond repair,
The lion took the lions share
The old land marks in British hands
Wcro pliablc as rubber bands,
And if thoir spies found gold or tin,
They stretched them ont to take it in.
If iron, coal, or potter clay,
Or land that's good for grain or hay.
Or valued timber thick and tall,
They stretched the lines around them all
If trcspasscrs were warned away,
The owners then, alackaday!
Had no redress, and in despair,
They yielded up the lions share.
In the republics infancy,
Our fishery rights were wholly free,
And Britons did not once complain,
'Iill fishing was source of gain!
They then cOntrycd with cunning ken,
TO circnmscribo our fishermen,
So that the gain would everywhere,
30 counted to the lions share
Our fishers under treaty new,
Whcrc'cr they went with nets and crew
Were giyl'l soon to understand
That they must fish "thrcc miles from
land"
The numerous bays, both broad and long
The British held by tenure strong,
Allnrcd our fishers "thrcc miles out, y"
TO be attacked by spies about!
They claimed by threats and curses stout
The meaning of the "thrcc miles out"
Was three miles in the ocean deep.
AS measured from each pointed cape!
Thus, treaties formed Of dubious phrase
That, Janus like, c0uld look two ways,
Allnrcd our men to fishing where,
Their luck went to the lions share
Collisions, fights, and costs to pay,
TO British courts in Canada,
Led to treaty once again.
That quite relieved our fishermen
But while TO them it gave relief,
1T brought the government to grief,
And made ii pay the lion bold,
FIVE million and il half in gold.
This was Of fisheries dish,
The British cooks prepared for Fish,
Whose stomach rctchcd ere he began,
10 "cat 1t like 4 little mani
II any wish these facts to see,
Portrayed in standard history,
\ part in Bcnton's View appears,
The rest in Blainc'S late Twenty Years.
Great Britain is our country'S foe,
In peace, as well as war, she's So
If any doubt truth so plain,
Such ones should read Benton and Blaine
Hamilton Fish, Secretary of Stat
! under Grant. =.