An Absurdum + 

Congressman Rixey, you’re a statesman⁠—you + 

Yourself will hardly say that you are not; + 

And yet I know not what you hope to do + 

For those Confederates whose luckless lot + 

Is to have lived through storms of Yankee shot + 

To this our day. They draw their breath, indeed, + 

But from the Government no cent of what + 

So admirably serves your nobler need. + 

You work for it? Why, that all cavilers concede. + 

You’d call these “rebels” to the Soldiers’ Homes + 

On equal terms with persons whom they fought! + 

Whereat the “truly loyal” statesman foams + 

At the loud mouth of him. But that is naught⁠— + 

He foams, not for he must, but for he ought: + 

For the Poll-patriot’s emotions flow + 

By taking (with much else of value) thought. + 

His feelings, if he have them, never blow + 

His cooling coal of anger to a brighter glow. + 

Well, well, sir, even the Devil may be right + 

Through ignorance or accident. ’Tis said + 

We’re sometimes dazzled with too great a light. + 

In which the blind, with customary tread + 

(And by a small, unblinking puppy led) + 

Walk prosperous courses to appointed goals. + 

And so your critics, though without a head + 

Among them⁠—eyeless, therefore, as the moles⁠— + 

May wiser be than you, who damn their little souls! + 

If of two aged Southern gentlemen + 

Of equal need and worth, the one that tried + 

To cook the country’s goose⁠—or say its hen⁠— + 

Be blest with all the cheer we can provide, + 

And which to t’other sternly is denied + 

Because he didn’t, it will seem right queer. + 

The gods are logical and may deride. + 

Respect the Southern veteran, but fear + 

The laughter of Olympus sounding loud and clear! + 