O party, pledged in years agone to change our sad condition, How have you left your task undone and quite resigned your Mission! How changed the time since tongue and pen our feuds combined to smother, And Harcourt walked with Healy then as brother walks with brother! We from Coercion's darkest gloom saw Erin's star re-risen, You hob-and-nobbed with patriots, whom yourselves had sent to prison: It was our schemes of mutual good such close allies that made us: You spoke as we decreed you should, we voted as you bade us: 'Twas we, when fain you were to fare on Office' loaves and fishes, 'Twas we alone who put you there despite your country's wishes: While you, when some our acts would blame, proved nought could be absurder Than rent to call a legal claim, or landlord-shooting murder. Yet why recount our ancient loves which now you turn your backs on? The maxim old it only proves--you ne'er should trust a Saxon: Deceitful still, his promised plan he docks, interprets, hedges, And when he thinks he safely can, he turns and breaks his pledges! True Celts despise the paltry baits wherewith you try to feed 'em: What! offer your diminished rates to men who pine for Freedom! On County Councils ne'er can thrive a People's aspirations, No local Government can give a place among the Nations! Begone! to swell the Jingo train and ape the tricks of Tories: Let Rosebery share with Chamberlain his cheap Imperial glories: Let Primrose Leaguers' base applause to Duty's promptings blind you-- Desert an outraged nation's cause, and take this curse behind you;-- Expect your doom, ye Liberals! though now you scorn and flout us, Full soon within St Stephen's walls you'll fare but ill without us; No more to us for succour come, for when you most would have it, It will not be forthcoming from yours truly, MICHAEL DAVITT! THE TRUE REMEDY (1898) The angry Gael to sooth you'll fail--the wrongs he lays your door at It won't redress to pay his cess and nearly all his poor rate: 'Tis useless quite to calm his spite by show'ring blessings o'er him, While still he lacks the O's and Macs his fathers had before him! But now, to close the tale of woes which long had tried our patience, Great MacAleese cements a peace between the warring nations; No more the swords of Saxon hordes are rankling in our vitals, For Erin's shore enjoys once more her ancient styles and titles. O long ago had things been so ere feud had rent our party, And Parnell those for leader chose while these preferred McCarthy, I doubt not but the Cause had cut a fat superior figure, If, better led, we'd had for head O'Parnell and MacBiggar! 'Twas hard to spot the patriot when parties mingled freely, And Labouchere at times would share the politics of Healy; A symbol new and plain to view from such mistakes will free him-- By Mac and O you'll always know a patriot when you see him: