Some War Questions

     This war with Spain

          Gives me a pain,

     The head kernoppers lag so;

          And nevermore

          As heretofore

     Will any Yankee brag so.

Why don’t our mighty army o

     Git on a double hustle?

Why don’t our gallant navy o

     Git up a naval tussle?

Why don’t they take the Philippines,

     Why don’t they bombard Cadiz?

Why don’t they send all Spanish fleets

     A-smokin’ down to Hades?

Why don’t they level San Juan,

     And capture Porto Rico?

Why don’t they stop that little game

     Of naval hide and seek-o-?

Why don’t they blanket Blanco now,

     And smoke a real Havana?

Why don’t they down the orange flag

     And up the starry banner?

        O war with Spain

        You cause us pain

     You sorely grieve and vex us;

        Why don’t they go

        And strike a blow

     On Spainie’s solar plexus?

    

June 10, 1898

Pub. in B. Courier,

June 26, 1898