Читать книгу Belford's Magazine, Volume II, No. 8, January, 1889 - Various - Страница 2

THE HONOR OF AN ELECTION

Оглавление

(President Cleveland’s Defeat, 1888.)

Whose is the honor? Once again


The million-drifted shower is spent

Of votes that into power have whirled two men: —


 One man, defeated; one, made President.


 Whose is the honor? His who wins


The people’s wreath of favor, cast

At venture? – Lo, his thraldom just begins! —


 Or is it his who, losing, yet stands fast?


 The first takes power, in mockery grave


Of freedom – made, by writ unsigned,

The people’s servant, whom a few enslave.


 The other is master of an honest mind.


 From venomed spite that stung and ceased,


From slander’s petty craft set free,

This man – the bonds of formal power released —


 Moves higher, dowered with large integrity.


 Though stabs of cynic hypocrites


And festering malice of false friends

Have won their noisome way, unmoved he fits


 His patriot purpose still to lofty ends.


 Whose is the honor? Freemen – yours,


Who found him faithful to the right,

Clean-handed, true, yet turned him from your doors


 And bartered daybreak for corruption’s night?


 Weak-shouldered nation, that endures


So painfully an upright sway,

Four little years, then yields to lies and lures,


 And slips back into greed’s familiar way!


 For now the light bank-note outweighs


The ballot of the unbought mind;

And all the air is filled with falsehood’s praise —


 Shams, for sham victory artfully designed.


 Is theirs the honor, then, who roared


Against our leader’s wise-laid plan,

Yet now have seized his plan, his flag, his sword,


 And stolen all of him – except the man?


 No! His the honor, for he keeps


His manhood firm, intact, unsoiled

By base deceit. – Not dead, the nation sleeps:


 Pray Heaven it waken ere it be despoiled!


George Parsons Lathrop.

November, 1888.

Belford's Magazine, Volume II, No. 8, January, 1889

Подняться наверх