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

For the Courier
Tho Lions Share-Can We Forqet 7
The lion strong and donkey dull,
With little fox Of cunning full!
a brief alliance formed one day,
TO sc0ur the woods in search of prey.
The chase exciting had run,
From early dawn to set of sun,
And The result was such sight,
AS sharpcned each ones appetite.
The lion, feigning to be fair,
The donkey told to fix each share,
And he quick thought it would be wise,
TO mako three shares of equal size.
Determined full, to show fair play,
lie made division just that way,
When suddenly, as quick as thought,
The lion slew him on the spot.
TO Rcynard, then, tho duty came,
OF sharing out tho gathered game,
Who quickly said, "My wants are small
The king of beasts shall have it allr'
"Well said, replied the lion great,
"You saw the foolish donkcy's fate,
And it's mark Of wisdom rare,
To recognize tho lions share"
Great Britain, with her flag unfurlcd,
That tlaunts tho lion round the world,
Proclaims to all, DER land and sea,
The lion in diplomacy.
The treaties that she makes arc rare,
That don't reveal "thc lions share"
Adjusted by hcr 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,
"A vast DOMAIN, then ali 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 played the boss,
And forced upon us this great loss.
Dan'l Webster was exceeding great,
On iloor Of Senate in debate,
But in diplomacy was led
A nl L..
lie 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 nincty-three,
Near all its length, as now we soc,
Vas changed to give the British more,
For Webster feared the lions roar!
In vain, cold Bullion" in the right,
Cried, "Fifty-four forty, or fght;"
The deed was done beyond repair,
The lion took tho lions share.
The old land marks in British hands
We're pliablc as rubber bands,
And if thoir spies found gold or tin,
They stretched them out 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 stretch 4. tho lines around them all
If trcspassors 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,
Till fishing was source of gain!
They then contriycd with cunning ken,
To circumScribe our fishermen,
SO that the gain would everywhere,
30 counted to the lions share.
Onr fishers under treaty new,
Whcrc'cr they went with nets and crew
Were given soon to understand,
That they must ''sh "thrcc miles from
land"
The numerous bays, both broad and long
The British held by tenure strong,
Allurcd our fishers "thrcc miles out"
To be attacked by spies about!
They claimed by threats and curses stout
The meaning "i 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, could look two ways,
Allurcd 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 thcm it gave relief,
IL brought the government to grief,
And made it pay the lion bold,
Five million and II half in gold!
This was Of fisheries dish,
The British cooks prepared for Fish,
Whose stomach rctchcd ere he began,
TO "eat it like Il little manr'
II any wish these facts to sec
Portrayed in standard history,
\ part in l}cnt0n'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;
IT any doubt a truth so plain,
Such ones should read Benton and Blaine
Hamilton Fish, Secretary of Stat,
under Grant. ,.