Poetry
Dublin Core
Title
Poetry
Description
Poetry.
For the National Anti-Slavery Standard.
J. Oswald Murray's Poem, condemning the ministers of the Free Church of Scotland for accepting the contributions of slaveholders, altered for the candid consideration of all persons who approve of the same, while they purchase and use the products of slave labor.
BY HENRY GREW.
“The price of human wrongs and human tears,
And then with canting sophistry,” ye sing
No “treachery” in “our ears.”
“And will ye stretch the hand to Southern lords,
Lords of the whip and fetter, and of man;”
And give the tempting gold, more choice than words,
To soothe them, “if ye can.”
“Ye, who so lately struck for Freedom's sake,”
And vowed eternal fealty to the cause;
Ye are the men who of vile gains partake,
“All for a little dross.”
“Even Pharisaic hypocrites of old
Cast from the Temple's sacred treasury
The price of blood, the stained, ill-gotten gold,
The cursed Judas fee.”
“But ye, the” men “of better, clearer times,”
Men “of a church that
Receive the bloody fruits of “distant climes
To share with Slavery.”
“Have ye forgot the deep, condign disgrace”
Yourselves “have heaped upon the” “oppressor's”
“name,”
“That ye so willingly assume his place
And rush to share his shame?”
Forget ye not “the Hero who declared”
“Unto the least of these it is to me?”
To pay the oppressor for his spoils, ye “dared:”
Is this no “treachery?”
Now do ye heap on Scotia's priests “disgrace,”
Because they took the Southron's impious “gold;”
Go then with them and take your
Ye bought the spoils he sold.
“Lo! in the” garments of your wardrobes, “men
Will see the slave's blood with the” cotton “mixed:”
On even plate of sweetened luxury “then
Shall gory stains be fixed.”
“And in the pauses of each” luscious round
“The music of his groans shall greet your ears;”
And, mingled with your offered thanks, shall sound
The “dropping of his tears.”
Oh! see thy brother trodden down in wo;
Hear “women's shrieks” still quiver Slavery's air;
Then tremble,
Is that which keeps them there
Source
National Anti-Slavery Standard
Date
7.10.1845
Collection
Citation
“Poetry,” No Stain of Tears and Blood, accessed October 22, 2026, https://productsoffreelabor.com/items/show/238.
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