The Bloody Banner: For The Signal Of Liberty

What banner floats on yonder sea? lts silken folds seem tinged with gold. The royal purplehue is there, with crimson red, imperial blue, and scarlet rays, bright as tbe flame of snnset glow. It is a splendid banner. - What nation owns it? Proudly it bears its radiant colora to the sky, and fearleesly and joyfully it dances o'er the mighty deep. But stay - that is no Tyrian die - no sunset ray. That banner's glowing hue is blood! The purple stream of life is flowing there! See, oh see, the reeking gore haa crimsoned even ocean's wave. What nation's banner may that be? Is it England's Lion bold? Oh no! Nolion there; not that the flag of Albion's sons. What! see you not that soaring Eagle? Know you not those brilliant stripcb! it is the far-famed, star-gilt, banner of America. America! That is a noble nation. Well I know her gallant story. She was taxed by kingly power - abused by kingly pride- and she revolted. - She would not bear She led her youthful troops unarmed, undisiplined, gainst a monarch's veteran bands, and fought for liberty. She dared even England's power,and bravely won her Independence. TVeJi may the towering Eagle deck her banner. Well may the stars of heaven glitter there, and well may rainbow stripes adorn it; for she gave liberty, peace, happiness, and equal rights to all her people. But why is the banner of America still wet with blood? What battle jas she fought - what victory won? With what bold nation is she now at war? With none. On every breeze her flag is freely borne: t waves in peace o'er all the 6ea. In peace! Why streams that banner then wilh blood! - America has shorn her beautenus flag of all its ïonors. Oh, she has drenched that ]ofty ban ner in the gore of guiltless África. Not in he gore of "mighty chieftain" - not in the gore of "snble warrior armed for fight,'' but n the gore of unresisting millions chained and trickened to the enrth. Oh, who has dioped er noble banner in the blood of the defenceesa mother - in the blood of helpless children nd of shrieking babes. Avaunt, tbou cursed banner! Pestilence is in thy stars - treachery n thy coward englc! murderis in thy stripes!! Oh, bring to me lhe flag of Europc's despot ungs; even the Sultan's crescent bring- Maïomet's standard bear - but toke,oh take away