Classic Poem

He who attempts to right a wrong,
E'en in our boasted day,
Has need of faith and courage strong,
For Mammon's in the way.
If with a wrong that's liv'd too long
You hint what you would do,
Be sure at once both knave and dunce
Will quickly turn on you.

The gods will try you in their schools,
With deep humiliations;
Let loose upon you all the fools
With horrid imprecations.
Some old iniquity ye'd crush
That's been a plague for years?
Lo! what a host of hornets rush
All buzzing 'bout your ears.

And Ignorance and Impudence
Will in their wrath belie you,
All flunkeydom in anger come
To insult and defy you;
For if you would do any good
To our benighted race,
Look out for base ingratitude,
For insult and disgrace.

You're told reform will ruin bring;
And every precious dunce
Will prove that 't is a wicked thing
To cease to steal at once;
The devil is to go ahead,
The world in bondage stay,
Because some coward is in dread
That Mammon's in the way.

But he's the hero who can brook
The insult and disgrace,
And yet has nerve enough to look
The devil in the face.
Be sure you're right, and then proceed
To sweep the pest away;
Those very men that now condemn
Will in the end hurrah.

Time on his route wheels things about:
Those that to-day look grim
Will be the very first to shout
“We aye believ'd in him!”
Then never faint in self-restraint,
Nor yield to passion's heat;
'Tis not by roughs and fisticuffs
That Mammon can be beat.