The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-10
Our Centennial.
- a. gNA

Prom Ms Chppr.
when Freedom nrst her nag unfurled
Across the land which now is free.
And shook Its bright folds TO the world,
newborn glory Tor the sea,
Her sons were faint. her ranks were few.
The nurseinsg up 10 manhood grew.
And strode giant Ger the land.
And now q hundred years have ned
Since irst that banner on the tky
Its glorious ttars aud stripes outspread,
A sign of hope and triumph nigh.
Its constellation, burning bright,
And caught the dawning OF the light
winch flames along the endless years.
Its sons have brought the lightning down,
And harncesed II to do their will
Ite forts In every narOor frown.
,lt thunders hleep on everf NH
And millions OF the brave and frce
Nestle beneath Its shelter Nlde.
The weary centuries effete
Had grown through ycars of suffered wrong
Before he march OF freedom's feet,
Tie Western world broke into song.
Art reared her temples In the land,
.s Tsc ,s SaSs 81 e. asgS SS.S seSe
And gllinmercd IN tie sunsets nre.
The desert waste garden grew
In prairie land. IN tangled fen;
The world. sstonshcj. pau.ed TO view
The grand creative power OF M N.
three millions saw che dawnng ilht
That blese'd the land with trecdOm's rsY,
And forty millions hail the sight
That breaks upon our eyes to-day.
The Old World brings her tribute here
To lay before the New Woriu's shrine,
The tropics offering sincere
Il, wealth OF olives and Of wine
Is lard before our feet 10 day.
o nappy omen, blessed sight
Where snone cut dimly Freedoms ray,
The woriu uansngured Hes IN light
One hundred years OF Freedcm's reignl
One hundred ycars OF war aud peacel
A golden century again.
Bourgrons and blQssoins with increase.
Across the lsnd. from sea to sea;
In northern air, on tropic SKY,
Streams out the banner Of the free.
Ana nesting meath each stripe and star.
siiantic waves, Pacfc foain.
vltwing the nations from afar,
shout o their coming: "weIcome home -
Welcome Cylumblas arms spread wide.
She stands beside each Dusy mart,
And. thrilled with JOY and topcncd with pride,
She folds tue whole world " her heart.
No bond Of sect, no tie OF erred.
Can make or mar her generous plan;
The only plea thAt all must plead
The common brot. ernoOd OF man.
The diamond from Brazilian miLes
CLEANS here by Afric's wealth of gold.
AND SILVER from the long inchnes
Where Coloradop wealth 10 told.
And Asia lays her treasures down.
Japan and india appear.
Bearing their oneriEgs to crown
Tho fullncss OF our hundredth year.
ORIENT isnds where through the palms.
With ccaselcss tone, from morn tin night,
The spicy Dieezes by mn their psalnis,
God give 10 you our boon Of hight
And make you free ~ We are free.
That. ne the YEAR, shall disappear.
The West may reach across The sea
To join IN your Cen enuial year.
Your hundred years OF freedom past,
Your thousand Year, OF peace to come,
Unbrokep by the warlike blast
Oh trumpet. OF the rolling drum.
o land Centennial to-day
God guard thee until time shall cease!
His blessings hover DER tnv way.
And crONn thee With His perfect pelcai
U blood-Dought land Inv rocks aud hills
Are freedOin's birthplace anu the arch
OF heaven. that bends aOove thy rilis.
bvocal with Tines srandest march.
For down the coming hundred years
hur dred million unborp men
Close up each gap, where now appears
A vacant spot " hill or glen.
A hundred thousand hofncs rbal rise,
Win III rita Of tr de. with lifted spires,
And In the n ,nt OF freedom's eyes
Forever burn tiny altar nres
r. NORMAN GuxxIsos