Ajax votes for McKinley

Ajax Votes for McKinley by F. B. (Frank Barbour) Coffin. [from Poems (1897)]


  Ajax went out to vote 

   On election day; 

 White man was standing 'round, 

      Things had gone his way. 


   Ajax had heard before 

      How the white man done, 

   Made Negroes vote with him 

      Or,---he had a gun. 


   White man said to Ajax, 

      "Well, how do you stand?" 

   Ajax said to white man, 

      "Straight republican." 


   White man said to Ajax, 

      "Leave the poles at once." 

   Ajax said to white man, 

    "You must be a dunce." 


  White man said to Ajax, 

      "You don't mean to go?" 

   Ajax said to white man, 

      "While I'm living---No!" 


   Ajax said, quite raging, 

  "This thing's got to stop, 

   Bossing Negroes' voting, 

    No more'll be a sop." 


   White man saw that Ajax 

   Was not like the rest; 

  Could not be bluffed away 

    With a little jest. 


   White man said to Ajax, 

     "Why are you so bold?" 

   Ajax said to white man, 

      "My rights to control." 


   White man said to Ajax, 

  "I don't mean to fight."

   Ajax said to white man, 

   "I'm for peace and right." 


  White man said to Ajax, 

 "Drop your war-like game." 

  Ajax said to white man, 

   "When you do the same." 


  White man said to Ajax 

    "What'll you do to me?" 

  Ajax said to white man, 

   "Hit me and you'll see!" 


   White man said to Ajax, 

     "This will never do." 

  Ajax said to white man, 

  "Sir, the same to you." 


 White man said to Ajax, 

 "I'll the diet try." 

  Ajax said to white man, 

  "Thank you, so will I." 


   Ajax showed the white man 

   He knew how to fight; 

   White man showed to Ajax 

     He could treat him right. 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/731594/5764690-will-my-vote-last.mp3?blob_id=23694697&download=true

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