The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-01-31

should come with it's whitening storms.
EVER PRESENT POVERTY.
The same pressure of ever present pow
erty is to be found in "A man is man
for a that" You all know the poem. 1t
is the Scotch Marseillaise. In spite of its
hidden pathos, it is the Scotch Declaration
of independence. 1t is the poor man hold
ing up his head, who is not overcome. 1t
is the man who crushed by fate but is
bigger than his oppressor I dare to re-
peat it here because it expresses the suf-
ferings and the ideals of the poet better
than any attempt of mine.
Is there, for honest poverty,
That hangs his head, an a that?
The coward-slave, we pass him by
We dare be poor for a that!
For a that, an a. taht!
Our tolls obscure an a. that;
The rank is but the guineas stamp,
The mans the gowd for a. that
What tho on namely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin-grey, and that;
Gle fools their silks, and knaves their
A mans a man for a that
For a that, an a that
Their tinsel show, an that;
The Honest man, tho e'er sac poor,
Is King O. men for a. that.
Ye, see yon birkie, cad "a lord"
Wha struts, an stares, an a. that?
Tho hundreds worship at his word
He's but cuff for a that:
For a that, an a that.
His RIB and, star, and a that,
The man O. independent mind
He looks and laughs at a that
A prince can max a belted knight,
marquis, duke, and a that;
But an honest mans aboon his might,
Guild faith he mauna ia that;
For a. that, an a that,
Their dignities an a. that,
The pith o sense, an pride O. worth,
Are higher rank than a. that.
Then let us pray that come it may,
AS come it will, for a that
That sense and worth, DER a the earth,
May bear the gree, an a that.
For a that. an a that,
It's coming yet, for that,
That man to man, the warld DER,
Shall brithers be for a that
With this poem | want to read, not sing
Scots Wha Hae." 1t is a magnificent song
There is Scotchman in my state by the
name of Norman Black. who lifts one as
he sings it. But have often thought that
it is an Grafton as well as song. 1t could
be given as such on any battlefield. 1t
could be read at any political convention
where men were really striving, as they
should at every political convention, to
better the conditions around them. 1t is
a call to arms in the battles of today as
well as of the past. 1t is call to action
in the great battle of peace-for honesty in
civic and in business life. It's call is as
clear today as it was in the day of the
tented field. 1t is a great Grafton as well
as a great song. Before it, Napoleon's ad-
dress beneath the Pyramids fades into
nothngness.
Scots, wha hea wi Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your CORY bed,
Or to victorie
Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o. battle lour,
See approach proud Edwards power
Chains and slaverie!
Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha can fill a towards grave?
Wha sac base as be a slave?
Let him turn and flee!
Wha for ScOtland's king and law
Freedoms sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand, or freeman ia,
Let him on wi me!
By oppression's woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains,
We will drain our dearest VEINS
But they shall be free!
Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Libertys in every blow!
Let us door die!
BATTLE JUST BEGUN.
And, ladies and gentlemen, the battle has
Just begun The blOodess battle of peace
which often require more courage than
even that of war Back of us is a magni-
ficent past. 1t is builded on democracy.
There is only one ideal, and that is the
ideal of the great Teacher of man, that
the meek shall inherit the earth, and that
OF Burns that man to man the world DER
should brithers be, and a. that We, Scotch
men, must, in America, as we have in