WHY with its ring has the connecting sea Married the Hemispheres and joined their hands, Why has the Magnet's guiding ministry Made paths athwart the deep to distant lands? Why are the winds to our control resigned? Why does resistless steam our will obey, Why are all arts, all elements, combined To speed us o'er the ocean-world's highway? That from wide earth, and from the watery waste, Creation's sacred flag may be unfurled, Whereon the finger of the Lord hath traced Creation's law -- "FREE TRADE WITH ALL THE WORLD!" Thus nature -- her maternal hands untied, Shall scatter fresh supplies of wealth and food, And from each varied soil and clime provide Some separate blessing for the common good. So shall the severed races of mankind, Bidding all barriers and restrictions cease, By constant intercourse become combined In one vast family of love and peace. Let no man part whom God would thus unite! They who would speed this high and holy aim, Leagued in the cause of universal right, All factious ends, all party views disclaim. Their weapons, Faith, and Charity, and Hope, Justice and Truth the champions of their cause, Firmly but peaceably they seek to cope With selfish interests and mistaken laws. Ye who love man's advancement -- peace -- free trade, Ye who would blessings win from every land, Oh! give the liberating League your aid, And speed its course with zealous heart and hand! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...UNGUARDED GATES by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE LAMPLIGHTER by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON FAUSTINE by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE THE WHEELING WORLD by JAMES ROBERT ALLEN I LIFT MY CANDLE by ELLEN ANDERSON REMARKS TO THE BACK OF A PEW by WILLIAM ROSE BENET |