July Fourth.

Hail, glorious morning of Columbia's birth,             Celestial dawn of freedom! There shall be         In recognition of thy wondrous worth             By mighty millions this side of the sea,             Triumphant crowns of laurel wreathed for thee!         Welcome thy mammoth pageants, welcome all             The choral songs and melodies of glee,         The swelling shouts of praise that gladly fall         From mighty multitudes in anthems national!         High hangs the sacred banner, and the stars             Dance in the sunshine, while the breezes play         Around the glory of the hallowed bars             Gleaming in white and crimson; music gay             Floats from the patriot host and cheers array         Great shouts around its foldings. Long in state,             Flag of the brave and free, wave o'er this day         To bring the world rejoicings which await         The natal hours of might, the day we celebrate!         How fears the tyrant in his capital,             As myriad wires throb with the nation's tale!         How despot trembles in his castled hall,             When liberty's wild shouts of power prevail,             And give their gladness unto every gale!         Fetters and chains dissolve in holy trust,             Scepters and swords in puny weakness fail,         While crowns and thrones make monumental dust,         And kingly Might is dead, Oppression downward thrust.         Wide float thy wondrous pans; loudly range             Thy songs of holy rapture; and the roars         Of deep-mouthed cannons echo wild and strange             Through shouting cities; Patriotism pours             Her full libations on the trembling shores,         Till earth reels with her triumph; and the voice             Of millions mad with merriment far soars         From sea to ocean with entrancing noise,         Till nations hear the cry and continents rejoice.         Wave on, thou flag of freedom, and this day             Still live in hearts of nations! O, thou Land,         Where Man was first the monarch, where the sway             Of birth exalted first was broken, stand             To guard the helpless with a mighty hand,         And give the weak protection; scout the ban             Which tyrants utter, and with growing band         Of noble freemen serve thy primal plan,         And bind all nations in the Brotherhood of Man!