95. an Ode for the Union.
by R. D. C.
No shorn republic name to me!No! No Confed'racy I crave
Save this, which, when we first were free,
Our great and wise forefathers gave.
Away the wild, delusive thought,
A gift like this should prove for naught!
'Twas for no slight and transient grief
In council met that patriot band;
But long they bore; in vain relief
They sought from “dear Old Mother-land,”
Ere schemes of Independence laid,
And gained it, after, by the blade.
'Twas for no small, contracted State,
At Lexington that first blood flowed,--
At Valley Forge that shoeless feet
Distained with gore the snows they trod;
And that on Camden's burning plain
Brave hearts withstood the iron rain.
Shame not the memories of the men!
'Twas not for this that Henry spoke,--
Grasped Jefferson his cunning pen,
And Washington his falchion took;
That seven long years our grandsires bore
The fortunes of a doubtful war.
'Twas that one glorious ensign still
Should o'er one wide Republic wave,
Whose deeds of peace the world should fill--
One nation, generous, just, and brave.
'Twas for one Empire of the Free,
From Erie to the Southern Sea.
Scorn not the work our fathers wrough
In Hist'ry yet the noblest deed;
Vex not their spirits with the thought
In vain for us they rushed to bleed:
No relics of the hard-won field,
But severed flag and broken shield.
Ho, brother foes! in th' Union's tree
Divide ye not your hearts in twain!
Say what the grief that could not be
Healed in those ancient bonds again?
Our worthies from the ground cry, “None!
Go back! go back! and still be one!”
Away the foul rebellious hand
That could the Union e'er destroy!
If needed that it aye should stand,
O God! who would not die with joy?
Who would not deem his death sublime,
Such boon to save to after-time?
No shorn republic name to me!
No! No Confed'racy I crave
Save this, which, when we first were free,
Our great and wise forefathers gave.
Away the wild, delusive thought,
A gift like this should prove for naught!
