Gazette Of The United States, & Philadelphia Daily Advertiser

JOCKEYISM.

Year after year the peal is rung,
From many a patriot's brazen tongue,
That public debts are public curses,
Or any other thing that worse is—
A sink of patronage and power,
Which threatens freedom to devour—
Thus far they go before the wind;
But mark what follows close behind;
The debts are a grievous evil,
But then to pay them is the devil!
For tho' they bellow e'er so loud,
To catch the wand'ring, gaping crowd,
And storm, and rage, and foam, and sweat,
They never mean to pay the debt.
Hence if you should but chance to tell 'em
To lay a tax on Stamped Vellum,
Or any other means and ways,
Which might the public credit raise,
They say, and instantly they swear it,
That their constituents will not bear it.
Debts of all sorts—we mean to pay them,
We'll make them, but will never pay them.