William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
American HappinessW
The nations of Europe complain;
And princes, and prelates, and placemen devour
What industry toils to obtain:
While Asia and Africa mourn;
Where the lamp that illumines the national breast
Is dimly discover’d to burn:
The genius of Freedom presides;
Her sons to protect, wields the wide-waving sword;
With wisdom our government guides.
By the sweat of his subjects obtain’d;
Nor gives to his favourites, flatterers, and friends,
What labour has honestly gain’d.
Their proportion with cheerfulness pay;
Or does, on our purses, necessity call—
Her mandates we promptly obey.
At once to oppress and despoil:
As he earns, every citizen eats his own bread,
And feeds on the fruits of his toil.
To sate their extortionate thirst:
We give and withhold when and whate’er we please,
Adjudging to each what is just.
Our meadows with provender teem;
The full horn of Plenty is pour’d on the plain;
And Peace sheds abroad her bright beam.
By the goodness of Providence given;
Remote from injustice, corruption, and strife,
To enjoy all the bounties of Heaven.
Of the rest of this sublunar globe;
Where the wounds which oppression inflicts on the state
Are too deep and too deadly to probe.
For these favours so freely bestow’d;
Let each heart hymns of gratitude offer on high
To our good and beneficent God.
To preserve it unsullied and pure;
To protect from infraction each rational right,
And bar to oppression the door.
On which Freedom must lean for defence;
Nor Dissension dissolve your reciprocal bands,
Whatever her specious pretence.
What your sires by their valour obtain’d;
From the fraud of your foes those immunities guard,
Which by force were so happily gain’d.
The glory and pride of the world,
Till Time from his glass shall shake out the last sand,
And Eternity’s flag be unfurl’d.
And your manners and morals deprave,
The fabric of Freedom, which now towers to the skies,
Must tumble in Tyranny’s grave.
From this her last refuge be driven,
She will fling her fair form on the wings of the winds,
And return to her birth-place in Heaven.