The Illumination, or Glorification of Wrong and Outrage (Poem)

The Illumination, or Glorification of Wrong and Outrage (Poem)

My heart is sick with disappointed hopes,
This robber-war has loosen'd all its props,
I fondly hoped the public heart and mind
Were feeling brotherhood for all mankind,
That Christian principles of love and peace
Were wide diffused, and that all wars would cease;
That these pure principles, opposed to strife,
Had set just value on the human life;
But the low standard of our public presses,
Decks robber-war in patriotic dresses,
Shouts "glorious victory" -- with joyful cry --
At wholesale murder of the deepest die!
For what was this vile robber-war began,
But to make room for trafficking in man,
To spread the hateful curse of slavery o'er
Wide fertile plains where freedom reigned before?
But we can now exult o'er thousands slain,
O'er wounded thousands agonized with pain,
And o'er desponding hearts of thousands more,
Bereft of all that sweetened life before.
Can Christians glory in the deep distress,
Of brethren in their utter hopelessness? --
In early times, true Christian converts strove
To bless mankind through offices of love.
If pressed to war, they then could answer right,
I am a Christian, therefore cannot fight;
The term admits but one interpretation,
True love to God, and man in every station.
Now Christians, calld, can fight in vilest cause,
And for their murders ask the world's applause;
Get up illuminations, shout huzzas, 
And bid defiance to Christ's holy laws.
Your shining lights are but portentous gloom--
A dark foreboding of the times to come,
When the dire evils of this murderous war,
And robber-slavery must be answered for.
Then, all these impious pageantries will cease,
These daring insults to the Prince of peace.
Ah! when will that bright gospel day break in,
When men will cease to glorify their sin?

Upper Darby, 4th mo.19th, 1847 
G.S.

G.S.

The Non-Slaveholder

2:6, pp. 120

6.1847