English poem
On The Suppression Of Free Speech At Chicago
by Walter Crane (1863–1929)
WITH stifled voice who crieth from the West, Where sinks the ensanguined sun of Freedom, erst That spread her stainless wings, and sheltering nurst, From out all lands, the hunted and opprest? America! shrink not from thy new guest; For liberty was thine for best and worst: How should her seed upon thy land be curst Till her false friends as traitors stand confest?
Doth Freedom dwell where ruthless Kings of gain, Like stealthy vampires, still on Labour feed, Still free—to toil or starve on plenty’s plain? Then what of Labour’s hope—the will to be Equal, fraternal, knowing want nor greed, Shrined in a peoples’ heart when states are free?
June, 1886.