1845: American National Ode by James Silk Buckingham

The poem below was published in the July 16, 1845 edition of The Friend, a Honolulu-based monthly tome edited by the Rev. Samuel C. Damon, a missionary associated with the American Seaman's Friend Society. 

One of the major themes of this poem is temperance. The temperance movement was an organized effort to encourage the moderation or the elimination of the consumption of alcoholic beverages. 

The author was British-born James Silk Buckingham (1786-1855), an author, journalist and traveler. He traveled throughout Europe, parts of Asia and the United States of America. There is no evidence that he visited the Hawaiian Islands. Nevertheless, as both an American patriot and fervent temperance advocate the poem must have appealed to Damon, resulting in its publication -one that was widely read by sailors and seamen. 

American National Ode

By J.S. Buckingham

The Friend

July 16 1845.

HAIL! DAY OF JOY.

Hail day of joy! whose glad return

            Hears a united nation's voice-

            "In thoughts that breathe, and words that burn,"

            Bid millions of free hearts rejoice.

"Who is the tyrant? -who the slave?"

            A thousand anxious voice cry-

Alas! the tenants of the grave,

            Could they but rise, might best reply.

The tyrant is -DESTROYING DRINK-

            Who chains his slaves in links of fire;

The slave is he whose manhood sinks

            Beneath his withering sceptre dire.

This tyrant carries in his train

            Each baleful passion's poisonous breath-

Crime, Misery, Want, Despair, and Pain,

            Disease, Insanity, and Death.

Will they who love their native land,

            See such a tyrant's rule unborne,

Nor stretch at once their patriot hand,

            To hurl him from his despot throne?

It cannot be! -Man's nobler part

            Yearns for his fellow-suffering man-

Haste, then, each patriot -Christian heart.

            The revolution is begun!

O! for a Washington's pure name,

            A Franklin's mind -a Hancock's zeal,

A Henry's eloquence-whose flame

Should kindle, in their country's weal.

Ten thousand thousand glowing tongues,

To form, to-day, a sacred band,

In every gall to bid their songs

Swell high for temperance through the land!