Fraternity-Testvériség, 1941 (19. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1941-06-01 / 6. szám

TESTVÉRISÉG

17

Kossuth! thy name with his we’ll twine Who planted here a spreading vine,

In peace to shelter thee and thine.

Performed thy part, done thy devoir,

With shield undimmed, thy struggle o’er,

Welcome, thrice welcome to our shore.

Boston, Oct. 12, 1851. Trismegistus.

From: “The Carpet-Bag” Boston, 1851.

*

TO KOSSUTH

Spurn! spurn the bribe! ford not the Southern river! Death courses in its crimson tide for ever;

A flood of sin too strong for man’s recalling,

Where slavery reigns, and breeds its crimes appalling.

What freezing mockery to make slavery’s speeches,

And waft thy blessing o’er its bloody reaches!

That soil wide streaming with the negro’s anguish;

Their fetters clank, in prisons still they languish.

Spurned, scorned and branded, they survive, half dying — Wives sold, child sold — the scourge, the scourge replying — Our brother — men — true rulers of this nation,

Victims of what? but thee and thy ovation!

On their deathless scorn as traitor hanging,

Around thy neck their chains of horror clanging,

Thou dar’st not meddle with domestic duties,

And will accept fell slavery and its beauties.

Our bragging land will wreck, and Freedom perish;

God has some heart, nor doth Hell’s statutes cherish;

Soon shall the States be lashed by dread commotion —

One fate to all, one flood, one vengeful ocean.

Those tortured hearts to Heaven for life are crying;

God’s angel to their thirsty hopes replying,

“The day shall dawn, this terror dark abated,

“I am not spoused with Sin, with Satan mated.”

From dismal swamps of Carolina’s planting,

From Georgia’s hills, the volleyed hymn is chanting,

“Give back our freedom! slaves all past describing; Hungarian martyr, spurn this loathsome bribing!

“Demand our prompt deliverance; cry in thunder,

And stir the torpid soul to joy and wonder!

Burst off these chains, our freedom just demanding, —

Then ford yon stream, each heart thine own commanding!

W. E. Channing.

From: “Letter To Kossuth concerning Freedom and Slavery,” Boston, 1852.