Grant Poetry: 1880

In 1880, Ulysses S Grant planned for a third presidency; he was very close to being the Republican candidate for the 1880 election, but James A Garfield was chosen instead. Here in Fargo, however, the newspaper The Argus threw their hat into Grant's ring, and expressed their support by composing short poems, with topics taken from the headlines of the day, and culminating in a comment on Grant. Be sure to check the footnotes; they explain the poem's references. I've got a bunch of 'em, I'll share as I transcribe. Yes, the poems were laid out this way:

CHEERFUL.

The Erie Canal has Busted Its

Straps¹—Gladstone Receives a

Knocker²—About a Score off

Scotland's Shore are

Swept to "Jones's

Locker."³

The Dismal Swamp's in Fearful

Blaze⁴—Hatch, Red Men Largely

Collars⁵—The Town of Hull,

Its Loss in Full, is

Several Million

Dollars.⁶

John and Jim, Those Champions

Grim⁷, Believing Their Chances

Scant, Will Come Home Yet,

and Hedge, You Bet;

Wagging Their

Tales For

Grant!

(The Argus, 23 April 1880.)

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