rom blood and fraud and
crime?
Conscience erred--an error which to-day repairs.

Conscience only now convinces them of strange though transient
error:
Only now they see how fair is treason's face;
See how true the falsehood, just the theft, and blameless is the
terror,
Which replaces just and blameless men in place.

Place and time decide the right and wrong of thought and word and
action;
Crime is black as hell, till virtue gain its vote;
Then--but ah, to think or say so smacks of fraud or smells of
faction!--
Mercy holds the door while Murder hacks the throat.

Murder? Treason? Theft? Poor brothers who succumb to such
temptations,
Shall we lay on you or take on us the blame?
Reason answers, and religion echoes round to wondering nations,
"Not with Ireland, but with England rests the shame."

Reason speaks through mild religion's organ, loud and long and
lusty--
Profit speaks through lips of patriots pure and true--
"English friends, whose trust we ask for, has not England found us
trusty?
Not for us we seek advancement, but for you.

"Far and near the world bears witness of our wisdom, courage,
honour;
Egypt knows if there our fame burns bright or dim.
Let but England trust as Gordon trusted, soon shall come upon her
Such deliverance as our daring brought on him.

"Far and wide the world rings record of our faith, our constant
dealing,
Love of country, truth to friends, contempt for foes.
Sign once more the bond of trust in us that here awaits but
sealing,
We will give yet more than all our record shows.

"Perfect ruin, shame eternal, everlasting degradation,
Freedom bought and sold, truth bound and treason free."
Yet an hour is here for answer; now, if here be yet a nation,
Answer, England, man by man from sea to sea!

_June 30, 1886._

THE QUESTION

1887

Shall England consummate the crime
That binds the murderer's hand, and leaves
No surety for the trust of thieves?
Time pleads against it--truth and time--
And pity frowns and grieves.

The hoary henchman of the gang
Lifts hands that never dew nor rain
May cleanse from Gordon's