The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-06-27
POETA NAsCETUR NON FzT.
Read before the Tennessee Press Association.
at Knoxville. June q. 1881
BY JonN ". FAxoy.

BY JOHN ". FAXOSs
wreath o. genius culled from o'era State;
Prom mountain high to broad and rapid
From. Holston's source-olineh Mountains
rugged gate.
To where the Mighty Rivers waters CLEAN,
Is gathered here, on this historic spot.
Where VISIONS yOtaries slumbeT unforgot.
It's well The Press here spoke its high com
When Holston's waves were bound b. tam
gled wild.
When sturdy yeoman came from other lands,
= 10 win an empire from the forest child.
Nov to those spirits grand in Drawn and brain
We here should rear and eonseerate fame.
Here Jackson. Blount and White and johnson
Endowed by Genius with wand of power;
Their pTscepts wise' and force Of thought once
Are still the ruling spirits of the hour.
Their deeds. which Ramsey's Annals illustrates
Heroes and statesmen well may emulate
Here dwelt champion of the Press's right,
A man who made his feeDan feel has steel;
Yet while he wrote an enemy 10 blight
He, for a friend. would at deaths altar
kueel
Peace to his ashes We theeypress wave
As friend and foe clasp hands at Brownlow's
grave.
Pealed out shrill tones Of fratrieidal war;
When startled thousands on abstraction cast
A hope which lured, yet Knocked them from
alaT,
While desolation spread its havoc vide
Der fields where brave men fought and bled
and died.
In those sad days the thunderstorm Of war
Ragged fercest herei and here they bore its
bruAti
For onward. led by Hates malignant star,
Id, 4hfnf
Here deaths dark banner madly waved on
high
When Union or Disunon was the cry.
But smiling peace resumed her gentle reign
Art. science. wealth, crushed by the dread
turmoil
Returned to life. and city. hill and plain
Are throaged once more by busy sons of toll,
And where, but now. we saw destruction rage,
Behold the progress Of peaceful age.
Reared from the ruins of those direfuI days,
TSis goodly city-nOw in roseate bl OH
Like Theseus' son-who met the wondering
As back to life returned he from the tomb
Seems grander, far, than those by-gone hours,
With female beauty, wealth, commercial pow
ers.
Men of the Press may here lesson learn.
This Union, left you by patriot host,
Is yours to serve. TO govern-thertfore yearn
To teach the youth what freemen lack the
most.
Der your vast power resistance bears no sway,
So let your teachings be the proper way.
Lift up the Press. and on its page unfurled
Let fraud and falsehOod wear n deeper brand.
Teach wisdom, honor to thoughtless world,
And drive the demon distrust from the land.
BE true to truth-the plaipest task is ours,
To weave for her a crown Of fadeess flowers.
Aud when your States fair credit is assailed.
Rush to the breach; resist the wIetehed
REPUDIATioN Gods Who hath not
quailed
Before the monster of that hideous dream?
Reputation must to honor yield
With this your motto rise and win the field.
But let me end this dull, untutored lay.
wish the thing had never been begun.
This writing rhyme an easy thru they say,
But. for my part, i cannot see the fun.
My win ged hOrse-the scrub-hath ne er wing,
And hence Il Is Il ain saddest when / sing"
This muse ofmi me is. as you must have known,
The, fright among MnemosYne's fair
daughters,
And she, the wretch, hath led me. on and on,
Beyond my depth-in wholly unknown wa
tiers.
And there | founder while she turns to fit.
''PQETA NASCITUR." you know. MON
FIT