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GET arbitration well in hand, on every ship of state Around the globe where men of war are arguments of late; Where power is the pendulum, that marks for each the time; And Arbitration will annul the fight-word, down the line. If all the cannon on the earth were soundly plugged to-day, If every musket might be broke and simply thrown away, If every sabre in the land was buried in the sea; I feel quite sure a brighter day would come to you and me. Because the ships demand their toll of death, beyond the shell, And many of our loyal lads have never lived to tell Of hardships, which the sea, has taught, now in their restful sleep Because their forms are buried 'neath the surges of the deep. If wars were only at an end, the misery and the woe Which weigh the hearts of many now, would early have to go, Instead of joining ranks to kill, and shooting men on sight, They then might all remain at home, and battle for the right. When God's search-light has found our souls, and analyzed the greed For wealth, likewise supremacy, with all its faulty seed; Should He, as we, our fruitage sort, rejecting all that's bad, I fear the gates that stand ajar would make few people glad. Annul the wars and woes of time and arbitrate the wrong, And plant anew in every heart, sweet arbitration's song And all the powers of the earth, the surging deep likewise, Will see ahead a soul's sweet rest, life's most ennobling prize. |