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Show J" V V , A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS FROM Vlli , MEN AT THE GATE i Wo'vo dug your million ditches, ' Wo'to built your endless roads, Wo'vo fetched your wood nnd water, And bent beneath tbo loadB. Wo'vo dono tho lowly lahor ' Despised by your own breed; And now ou won't admit us ilecauso wo can not read. Wo'vo given honest labor, And liked our humblo lot; Our children learn the letters Their fathers haven't got. ' Wo'vo lied from persecution And served ou In our need, Hut now you would debar us Hecause wo can not read. Most crooks aro educated, And to tho manner born; Their white hands show no callous, They look on us with scorn. Mere learning Is not virtue, The word Is not tho deed; Disdain, then, not jour toilers Hecause they can not read. Good friends, If wo aro brothers, Why do you raiso this test? Will talk, then, till your acres And feed your people best? Your children, trained ns Idlers, Somo workers you must need; Don't oar our only refugo npcnuso wo can not read. Your farms aro half deserted. Up goes tho prlco of bread; Your boasted education Turns men to clerks Instead. Wo bring our picks nnd shovels To meet your greatest need; Don't shut tho gntcs upon us Tipcnuso wo can not read. |