Rhode Island Republican

For the Rhode-Island Republican.

AMIDST venal sycophants,

Ye who have stemm'd corruption's torrent tide,
And, fir'd with nobler rage,
Have curb'd injustice, and insulting pride;
The great, the good, the brave--
To you this shall raise the tributary lay,
And e'en the Titled Slave,
Struck with a secret awe, unwilling homage pay.
Justice hails the hour
With shouts of myriads, when your firm decree,
Unaw'd by lawless power,
Once more Columbia shall be free--
Triumphant o'er her foes,
To bless with all her charms, a nation's longing eyes.--
See from her virtuous Zone
The fiend imposture, with deep ruin hurl'd,
By mighty truth o'erthrown,
The scorn and wonder of th' admiring world:
See truth with powerful ray,
Thro' clouds of error and detraction rise,
And bursting into day,
Holds its firm course, unweari'd thro' the skies.
Still let the venal bard
To power his songs of gratulation pay,
And for his base reward
To deeds of war and havock tune the lay;
The muse, to freedom dear,
To freedom's sons the votive song shall raise,
And still with zeal sincere,
Shall independence fire, and truth direct her lays.
Freedom, to thee we owe
All that adorns, or dignifies mankind,
From thy fair fountains flow
The purer spirit, and the nobler mind.
Long may that holy fire,
So much congenial with a patriot's breast,
Columbia's sons inspire,
Ere yet fair freedom sink, by despot force opprest.
Soon may her happy reign
Chase from the earth oppression's monstrous brood,
And all the impious train
Of anarchy, the fiend, that thirsts for blood;
Soon, soon may discord cease,
Nor war and havock waste the affrighted plain
But freedom, join'd with peace,
Wide o'er the purpled earth extend their blissful reign.