Let us beat the drum triumphant, clash the cymbals and rejoice,
To the breezes let our banners be unfurled ;
For emancipated womanhood at last has found a voice
In the national assemblies of the world.
Then let the shrill huzzas
Of the maidens and their mas
Re-echo o'er the hills and in the halls,
For a womankind arisen is
With a whirling cry for business,
And the horrid men may now look out for squalls.
In the ages that are past, woman's lot was always cast
As man's helpmate-but away with such reflections !
For freedom's come at last, as our one-time lords and masters
Will find out at the Federal elections-
For we're learning every hour-
How to use our voting power,
Tho' ideas are rather misty just at first.
But the W.C.T.U.
Will tell us what to do.
And our budding views will blossom or they'll burst.
Who shall say we are not fit in our council halls to sit,
Vote on fiscal matters, deal with coast defences,
Or debate on any issues--judges, sugar, mails or fichus.
And assist in keeping down the house expenses.
We shall soon learn all that matters,
Lascar stokers, English hatters,
Transcontinental railway, and the site
Of Australia's new capital.
We will not have a Jap at all,
And all the Browns shall take the name of White.
And oh ! supremest bliss, every barmaid we'll dismiss,
And send them all to--regions that are far;
Nor one solitary hussy, wearing yellow hair and fuzzy,
Shall be left to tempt our sons across the bar.
We'll work for prohibition,
And we'll make it a condition
That the taxes on the bachelor be risen,
Until in self defence
And to save him from expense
He implores one of our sisters to be his'n.
Then let all with loud acclaim, as we march along to fame,
Hail the "coming woman" now that she has come,
For she'll put the world to rights, and--provide some curious sights
When she legislates around and makes things hum.
When she takes the Speaker's chair,
What member e'er would dare
To dispute her lovely ruling in debate,
And when she seeks to pair,
Let the single man beware,
Or he'll find that he is doubled sure as fate.
Notes
From the Victorian Newspaper The Bendigo Advertiser 28 Nov 1903 p. 3.
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