March 27, 1844: “For the American Freeman”, by M. B. C., published in the Wisconsin Free Democrat.
The local anonymous poet, M. B. C., expresses the anti-slavery sentiment popular in the East and Midwest. Then, it was two years before Milwaukee became a city and four years before Wisconsin became a state.
“Hath not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, with respect of persons.”—James 2-1
Oh ye! Whose cold fastidious eye
Will scarcely deign to rest,
Upon the child of misery,
Or brother in adversity,
By want and woe oppresst;
That brother’s skin perchance may be
Not colored like thine own;
That brother’s soul, could’st thou but see,
Might prove of spotless purity,
And worthy of a throne.
Have ye His faith, whose blood was shed,
So freely forth for thee?
“He had not where to lay His head,”
A toiling, weary life he led,
Of pain and penury.
And when the Highest down to earth,
Did hopes immortal bring.
Oh taught not He, how little worth,
Were shades of skin, or wealth, or birth,
In sight of Heaven’s King!
Then haste, with life’s last ebbing sand,
Thy Master’s will to do,
Stretch forth the steady heart and hand,
To dark misfortune’s shrinking band,
And love and serve them too.