Kelly the Dog Posted November 2, 2004 Share Posted November 2, 2004 The proudest now is but my peer, The highest not more high; Today, of all the weary year, A king of men am I. Today, alike the great and small, The nameless and the known; My palace is the people's hall, The ballot-bow my throne! Who serves today upon the list Beside the served shall stand; Alike the brown and wrinkled fist, The gloved and dainty hand! The rich is level with the poor, The weak is strong today; And sleekest broadcloth counts no more The homespun frock of gray. Today let pomp and vain pretense My stubborn right abide; I set a plain man's common sense Against the pendant's pride. Today shall simple manhood try The strengthen of gold and land; The wide world has not wealth to buy The power in my right hand! While there's grief to set redress, Or balance to adjust, Where weighs our living manhood less Than Mammon's vilest dust- While there's a right to need my vote, A wrong to sweep away, Up! clouted knee and ragged coat! A man's a man today! By J. Greenleaf Whitter in the mid 1800s before women and minorities could vote. A little overly sappy and sentimental but not bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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