We've robbers of the people's land, and pirates
of free trade,
Who plunder us for doing good, by laws, which
they have made.
Now, would you cease to be the slaves of such
a robber band,
Repeal the tax on honest toil, and charge it
on the land.
Then land will cease to sell for gold, and
each can have his share;
While peace and plenty, joy and love, will
be our daily fare;
Then all can work at farming, in the factory
or mine,
To feed and clothe, and get their gold, and
build their houses fine;
And then we'll build substantial homes, secure
'gainst fire and rain,
While landlords and monopolists may build to
rent in vain;
For land and easy toil each morn, will all
we need afford;
Then women will not sell themselves as now
for bed and board;
For science and machinery shall aid our daily
toil,
To manufacture all we need, and cultivate the
soil.
Thus light and easy toil ere noon, will every
want supply;
Then rent and care, and haggard want, we'll
ever more defy.
We'll educate our children, too, in science,
words, and facts,
Nor sell the homes of any for an education
tax;
We'll teach them justice, truth, and law, and
liberty and love,
To be philosophers indeed, and harmless as
a dove;
For plenty then will teach for love, when labour
is so light,
When every afternoon will be a Sabbath of delight.
We'll freely roam o'er Nature then, and cull
her gems so rare,
And learn her hidden mysteries with all a student's
care'
Such means would be a blessing to the teacher
and the scholar
And need not then exha.nsj ourselves, nor drink
to drown our care,
When all the riches Nature yields, in plenty
we may share;
Then temperance and industry will bless the
human band,
When all shall evermore enjoy their liberty
and land. |