The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-03-02
NOn-PartlSan Politics.
(Copatinued from po0e 321.)
EAstoP Of che ElOvSdo A0rse~Ks~iss:

(C0natinued from page 32l.)
There are two formative elements
of character. LIST, Notice individual
qualities. and, Environment. Where
the first are strong the character is |
marked when they are weak the
character is common. Florida may
not possess those great elements OF
Agriculture, or exhibit those preco-
cious commercial tendencies which
distinguish some of the States but
she has peculiar intrinsic qualities
which balance these and which will
form a strongly marked character.
These formative elements OF the fu'
ture character and destiny of Florida
are her peculiar physical structure,
geographical position and climate.
Let us look at these tor in them we
shall see with prophetic light not
only the future destiny OF our State
but The true public policy and politi'
cal course of action. II we progress,
we must advance not alone by light
behind, there is also light within,
above and before Us to rightly shape
our course we must not only see
whence we have come, bnt we must
know whittier we are going. With
in the Historic period there have
been two eras of great intellectual
activity and social advancement. 1t
is our good fortune to be living in
one of these. In the other, Greece
and Rome acted most prominent
parts, while this prominence was due
mainly 10 the intrinsic elements of
character possessed by those remark
able people there was something in
the peculiar physical structure, geo
graphical position, and climate OF
The peninsular, they occupied which
first attracted them thither, and then
facilitated the rapid development OF
hat $780, agd a.J made sss Grse Ca. and
ing for Florida ) relative position, in
the great future Of the New World,
like that Of Greece and Rome, IN the
Mediterranean States of that glorious
period Of the Old World, we call at
tention to few parallel facts, bear.
ing in mind that Egypt, Ninevah,
Babylon, Tyre, and Troy, were in
their highest glory where Cadmus
was teaching the alphabet to the bar
barous Greeks; and that Greece her.
self became famous ere yet the Latin
colony had got toothold in barbar.
Gus Italy. Fifty years have reserved
the relative position OF states.
Twenty-Five years may make great
changes, in the future. Like those
famous peninsular projections of the
Northern continent into the warmer
waters OF the Mediterranean Sea
which bore The commerce of the
known world, Florida projects south
ward from the northern continent OF
the New World occupying similar
central position in the hemisphere
and Is washed by the semi.tropical
waters OF the great Mediterranean
guilt through which will soon pass
The larger commerce of the world
that is. So alike in relative position,
character and climate, Florida
naturally borrows the name of the
now famous peninsula and is called
The Italy OF America. Concerning
the attractions and advantage of the
climate of Florida ae a formative
element OF character, nothing need
be said here. We will also pass, for
the present, The relative geographi.
cal position, and consider first the
physical structure OF The peninsula.
This can be bester appreciated by
reference to that older history of
events that toreordained the des-
TIMES Of States and nations by out.
lining continents, peuinsulas and L.
lands, ere man was. In those days
when the waters of the great ocean
beat inward, from the southeast as
far as Missouri, the east line OF the
continent was extended southwark
several hundred miles by the slow
uprising OF low narrow ridge of
Oolitic limestone, thus more de-
tiuitely closing in the Gulf of Mexico
then twice as large as now. The
southern extremity Of this low ridge
constitutes the central and primal J
axis OF the peninsula OF Florida, |