The Socialist and labor star. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1911-1915, 1914-09-25
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The War God Slumbers Reused from fitfu
dreams of peace he woke mad with lust Of blood and death
and rushed forth in haste TO burn, deEastae. MAIN,
gle and murder the children Of men As write feel
the trenor of the earth trebes beneath the tread Of
armed Millions that Minerva like sp0ng full panopeT from
the brain of Mars
1t seems that while men Slept dreaming Of dawn in
which the Vulcan Of Civilization by magic touch would
swords into powsFares and spears into pIrning hooks
Demon of almost infinite power seized the dial of Progress
with hand and turned it backward hounsand years
while with the other he neshed the red N0utheo hounds
of Hell whose hoarse cry for blood be heard around
the world. Their flashing fangs cshe in the white
throat of Germany France England, Austria and RUSSIA
while in their wake prowls the acka Japan crHHed by lust
of loot and power. The first clash of left Belgium
whose fighting men praise from julius Caesar wcItel
ing in the blood of her heroes manned and manged be
yOnd reorganization
Forgotten is the angel song Of universal peace, first
heard by humble shepherds Of Judeas conseclaed hills
while wise men bowed at Bethehem's holy manger. The
epic of Good Will drowned in the thunder of and the
moan of dying Twenty million soldiers front each
other in battle array, while before their awful guns there
crmbes to dust the achievements Of centuries Compared
to the contending hosts swalming Europe the
legons of Caesar Alexander and Napoleon appear like
bands of struggling brgands.
With passing days the horror grows The jestlc sun
looks down upon world Of want and The moon paIes
the havoc wrought land and STARK dead eyes
the stainless stars from thounsand stricken fields
llCd ripping illS tnll wont 10 l3n ana
sing their way the chant funcra! drgr their
myriad tongues swollen with mingled tears and blood.
Forgotten is BrcthcYhoods holy bond. Gods Father
hood recrdcS dimy distant. fading in battle clouds like
glorious dream, while upon every passing breeze IS heard
the moan of mothcrhoo the sigh Of widows and the wall
Of oiIIhanS
Science, the Iber;Ctor has been chained to the rcd
chariot of Mars Justice hangs bleeding Ambitions cruel
cross Mercy has fled arar Kindness and Friendship
in disreputc Anity is sick unto dcth Civilization hides
her tear stained face in shame while Christianity, prone in
the DUST cries to God.
Hatred holds sway Men act like demons. !mps laugh
and gibber in battle smoke Quang gobictS Of bloc" to the
God Of War; while Dscord is weaving the wall Of Widows
the moan of mothers the cries Of orphans in the night the
cracIe Of devoung flames. the rattle Of rifles. the crash
of cannon the of bursting shells, and the sllcNS {"
diving 1nyl@aS into rag time medley with which to
trance all He'll
Where Yesterday stood smiling cities black Ruin,
torch in hand stalks breathing fury and fire In the place
where smiling fields of grain lifted their golden banners to
the SUM- graves vuwn, numbcllesS the Having
sowu Dragon teeth the nations of Europe rcapng the
fruits of nitdiSm in harvest Of DEATH destruction and
tamnaton. The end is cnVeoped in StygiaM darkness.
Reason has been dcthrOned Ears closed alike to pro
tests and PRAYERS The voice Of Might alone be heard
No plea for peace can prevail Mad kings heed only
the voice of blood crying from the ground The time VIII
when the cry the slain will rise above the {"
battle When this happens Reason W be called from exile
and the curtain fall upon the migiticst tragedy en-
acted in the Annals Of Man.-BrannS lconoc,St.