Oppression
(Golder Project subject term)
Represented in
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Auld Jamie Waft.—A Song in The New Zealand Survey
- Auld Jamie had been a bright weaver of old, / And seldom was favored with silver or gold; / Though early and late he would ply at his craft, / Still blythe as a linnet was auld Jamie Waft. / And when to New Zealand auld Jamie did come, / To follow dame fortune and seek a fresh home; / In meeting with hardships he never shew’d saft, / But stick to his colours did auld Jamie Waft. / For Jamie when landed had scarcely a shilling, / But had a stout heart and twa hands that were willing / For all kind o’ wark though professing no craft; / So naething could wrang come tae auld Jamie Waft.
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Canto First in The New Zealand Survey
- And among whom their Queen can walk at large— / Save but for equipage and princely show / Becoming dignity—without that dread / Which calls for great precautions of defence, / As despots use ’mid their degraded serfs:— / Nay, more, receive a welcome that resounds
- How Tyranny is here put to the blush / To see a happy people who possess / A nobleness of soul,—ev’n ’mongst the poor;— / Which quite outshines that of their pompous peers / In outward splendour clad;—while among whom / All freedom circulates, as through one’s veins / Flows the life giving fluid in good health / Imparting joyous vigour through the frame;— / Such freedom that appreciated can be / Best by its daily use—becoming part / And parcel of existance—and exempt / From aught that tends to turn it to abuse:—
- And Superstition fain would hide the head / Convinced of folly in its rigid rites / Of formal services, and outward show, / Where mammon more is served than Him who claims / The humble heart’s devotion as his due. / Come from a sterile soil, where stunted views / Of holy life but grovel upon earth, / And never can expand to heav’nly heights, / Nor peace nor charity extend to all / Who differ may in conscience from his rule; / He finds some strange misgivings in his heart, / As there, some voice for first to him reveal’d, / A deep impression makes, as ’twould declare / That with his former ideas of truth / Were mingled much of error!—such bestirs / Reflections on the history of the past / With sighings for the future, while he strives / To raze what habit long has rooted deep!
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Canto Fifth in The New Zealand Survey
- Oh! what is worse than sympathy extinct? / And human hearts become the demon’s den?— / Then man, the greatest enemy to man / Becomes, when dire ferocity is roused / Each ’gainst his fellow, through necessity, / Urged by a craving lust like beasts of prey! / Nay worse!—and more degrading—’gainst their kind / None’s ravenous, though they might disagree, / A fellow to devour!—Their scarce supplies / Of all that craving appetite demands / Have driven them oft to sad revolting deeds, / The source of fierce exterminating feuds / For sake of plunder; when the “weak” must fall / To “might” a prey, as when the smaller fry / Of ocean, by the greater, are devoured!
- Could this unhappy people, as they were, / Be called the true possessors of the soil? / Their occupancy never seemed secure; / And dread debarred their aiming to improve / In cultivation’s art, or ev’n t’ extend / Their labours more than served a present need; / Or what some exigency might demand! / But not for social intercourse in trade / Among their neighb’ring tribes; for jealousy / Debarr’d such efforts, lest they’d fall a prey / To lawless lust; and, as their wants were few, / So even these with little must be met; / Unless it were when plund’ring was the rule! / The wilderness remained an idle waste! / The land was uninhabited, while those,
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A Dinner Hour Reverie in The New Zealand Survey
- Alas, how many are enthralled / By fashion’s chain that binds to earth / In grov’ling mood; contemning peace / Which nature in them might give birth. / Then daily toils would pleasure prove / More than a burden to be borne!— / Why hug such chains of slavery so / That should rejected be with scorn?
- Why thus should fretful thoughts annoy / A rational mind, may one enquire? / When all around, as ready, wait / Our hearts with pleasure to inspire. / ’Tis worldly pride, that peace destroys, / And kindles there each baneful strife; / Envenoming the purest joys / That might attach to human life. / The wants of nature are but few, / And eas’ly to be satisfied; / While those created ever grow / More and more complex when allied / Unto vain glory!—Such would shake / O’er one the tyrants vengeful rod, / Enslaving best affectious still / That should be rendered to his God.
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A Parting for War.—A Song in The New Zealand Survey
- There’s glory ’mid the din of war, / Though nought ye see but danger, love; / Should Freedom’s sons e’er brook debar / From proving her avenger, love! / ’Tis thine, indeed, to weep o’er ills / Which tyrant pride inflicteth, love; / But be it mine to thwart that will / Which Freedom’s joys restricteth, love!
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Canto Second in The New Zealand Survey
- While many shoals / Of various kinds of fish, all more inclined / To be gregarious, like some beastial tribes / Of terra-firma, o’er the length and breadth / Of space now occupied with these whole isles, / Pleased with their ample scope, would journey on / As sent the prey of others in their need, / Whose whole employment seem but to devour! / Which are by others preyed upon in turn— / An intermingling constant ruthless war, / One ’gainst the other—strong against the weak, / The weak content to feast upon the dead / Of those that had devoured their ancient sires!
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Signs of the Times in 1853 in The New Zealand Survey
- Thus soaping well the list’ning crowd; / He in their ears can bawl aloud, / “Oh! how I love the working man!”*— / Aye! love him?—Surely!—that’s the plan / To gain his flatter’d favours:—though / ’Tis on the hustings, a mere show, / Their special ends to gain!—and then
- So, such the mode to gain us plann’d, / Their compensations large of land! / Those lordships great, who reap the gains / Of poor men’s sufferings, and pains, / Must now in gratitude bestow / The highest honor they can shew / Upon their “man;” with equal cheer / Would add some mighty sum per year, / Which, to be raised, may add to tax / Laid slyly on your slavish backs!
Searching
For several reasons, including lack of resource and inherent ambiguity, not all names in the NZETC are marked-up. This means that finding all references to a topic often involves searching. Search for Oppression as: "Oppression". Additional references are often found by searching for just the main name of the topic (the surname in the case of people).
Other Collections
The following collections may have holdings relevant to "Oppression":
- Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, which has entries for many prominent New Zealanders.
- Archives New Zealand, which has collections of maps, plans and posters; immigration passenger lists; and probate records.
- National Library of New Zealand, which has extensive collections of published material.
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, which has extensive holdings on the Auckland region and New Zealand military history.
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, which has strong holdings in Tāonga Māori, biological holotypes and New Zealand art.
- nzhistory.net.nz, from the History Group of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.