The Night Before Election

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Mary Torrans Lathrap (1838-1895) | American
from The Poems and Written Addresses of Mary T Lathrap | Detroit, Nov 03, 1862

There 's a battle for to-morrow, then, freemen, cool your brain,
This is no time to trifle, there is too much to gain ;
For ere to-morrow's sun has set below the western sky,
At Michigan's free ballot box, the wrong or right must die.

There 's a conflict for to-morrow, and though no man may fall,
Yet something there may perish that is dearer than thy all ;
Then question your heart deeply, in the sight of God to-night ;
See that your hand to-morrow makes sure the blow for right.

Down on the field of battle our soldiers wait the day.
If you are false or faltering, what will our brave ones say ?
Their manhood's all is given shall they toil on alone?
While that for which they 're dying, is voted down at home ?

Our State's brave sons are battling against our country's foe,
But all her enemies are not where Southern breezes blow
For you will meet to-morrow what 's worse than they, now mark !
Assassins at the ballot box, stab Freedom in the dark.

Our soldiers look toward you with confidence and pride ;
The blood of many speaketh, from fields where they have died.
Then dare you, dare you falter ? O, withered be the hand
That casts a vote to darken the shadow of our land.
No compromise with treason, no tenderness for those
Whose love for dark oppression has deluged us with woes ;
No men who call them brethren, who 've dimmed our banner's stars,

No men save those who 'd crush them beneath the heel of war.
The night before election ! O freemen, cool your brain,
Compute your country's peril, and what you have to gain ;
Question your heart in silence before high heaven to-night,
And may the God of nations protect and speed the right !