A CHANGE OF PARTNERS.
["The world should be open to our national ingenuity and enterprise. This cannot be while Federal legislation, through the imposition of a high tariff, forbids to American manufacturers as cheap materials as those used by their competitors.... A measure has been prepared ... embodying tariff reform on the lines herein suggested."—President Cleveland's Message to Congress.]
Grover Cleveland sings:—
(Air—"Are you coming to the dancing?")
Oh! there's only one girl in the world for whom I care a dime,
And I mean to be her partner—if you'll only give me time.
It is nice to see her smiling and a-calling from way over,
"Are you coming to the dancing, Mister Grover, Grover, Grover?"
Chorus—Are you coming, are you coming,
Are you coming to the dancing, Mr. Grover, Grover, Grover?
And I say, I guess I'm coming, Miss Free Trade, dear—as your lover!
"Come, Grover, come!" my love will say; "just one turn in the dance,
And we'll show all competitors they have but little chance.
That's why I love you Grover, 'cause you're limber in your feet
And defy the other fellows, to compete, pete, pete!"
Chorus—Are you coming, &c.
Miss Protection, my old partner's a bit passée, entre nous,
Yet I mustn't all forsake her; she's exacting and a shrew;
And to leave her quite a "Wallflower," and entirely in the shade,
Would mean ructions; yet I must try just one turn with dear Free Trade!
Chorus—Are you coming, &c.
So I'll kiss her little finger, and invite her to the waltz;
Though the other turns her nose up (temper's one of her worst faults).
But I say, "I cannot help it, dear; you're danced quite off your feet,
And a rest will do you good, dear, I repeat, peat, peat!"
Chorus—Are you coming, &c.
"The ball-room should he open to a dancer's enterprise.
I must try a change of partners; your high-tariff step so tries.
It's so stiff, and so exhausting, and a little Freedom's sweet;
Whilst I take one turn with Free Trade. You can take a seat, seat, seat!"
Chorus—Are you coming, &c.
"Oh! she's been and asked her mother, and her mother's said she might.
So sit down and don't show tantrums, for they make you look a fright."
May I ask you for just one turn, Free Trade, before this dance is over?
And she answers "With much pleasure, Mister Grover, Grover, Grover!"
Chorus—Are you coming, are you coming,
Are you coming for one turn, my dear, before this dance is over?
And she smiles—and I'm her partner—and hope soon to be her lover!