Oh, Britannia, the pride of the ocean, The home of the brave and the free, It is time that with zealous devotion, We saw to the Navy for thee. If tyrants thou still wouldst make tremble, Thou needest some armour-clads new, Or else――it is vain to dissemble―― It’s all up with the Red, White, and Blue. It’s all up with the Red, White, and Blue, It’s all up with the Red, White, and Blue; It is useless to longer dissemble, ’Tis all up with the Red, White, and Blue. _Truth Christmas Number._ 1884. ―――― THE ELECTION. Great, great is the task set before us―― Once more ’tis for us to decide The men who shall freely rule o’er us, And still by our bidding abide. Then choose we the leaders whose story Will ever bear telling anew, Whose work in the past is their glory, And stamps them as honest and true. _Chorus._ Then choose we the tried, wise, and true, Then seek we the tried, wise, and true; Let truth and consistency rule us, And choose we the tried, wise, and true. We know what the task is whose splendour Our country will light on its way, When Justice and Progress attend her, And class has forgotten its sway; When hope for the thousands who labour Is real in their toil-weary view―― When right for each man and his neighbour Shall end in a union that’s true! J. PRATT. _The Weekly Dispatch._ October 25, 1885. ―――― AN AMERICAN IMITATION. Oh, Columbia, the gem of the ocean, The home of the brave and the free; The shrine of each patriot’s devotion, A world offers homage to thee. Thy mandates make heroes assemble, When liberty’s form stands in view; Thy banners make tyranny tremble, When borne by the red, white and blue. When borne by the red, white and blue. When borne by the red, white and blue, Thy banners make tyranny tremble, When borne by the red, white and blue. When war waged its wide desolation, And threatened our land to deform, The ark then of freedom’s foundation, Columbia rode safe through the storm. With her garland of victory o’er her, When so proudly she bore her bold crew, With her flag proudly floating before her, The boast of the red, white and blue.