The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-06-20

Now come and 60
And to and fro
Traverse it and its charms confess.
Before refining culture trod
Upon our soil, or axe or saw
Or plane or hammer yet despoiled
Our noble forests; or our ears
Were stunned with din of countless looms
Ere railroads barred with iron bands;
Or telegraphiC wires spanned
From east to west, from north to south;
Ere schools, academies, hotels
Ofmammoth and palatial forms,
Before tall church spires lifted high
Their SUBMITS toward the clouds above;
Before inventive genius reused
Or talent aught discovered here,
| Loi grandeur DER the mountain spread
It's glorious mantle. Beauty's beams
Ger vale and river, streamlet, rill
Our country still
| With joy could fill,
From sea to sea, from hill to hill
Though native greatness cen is hers,
Though wide extended bloom,
Though varied scenes of grandeur rise
On every hand, resources vast
Are hers. Though courage fill the hearts
Of all her people, which
1mpels to conquer natures self,
Yet not in these her greatest pride
Should be displayed. The industry,
The enterprise and intelligence,
Joined unto thrift which forests change
To fields of waving grain, and which
The feecy staple turns to gold.
Where capital and brains direct
Where cities rise, highways extend,
Where commerce most doth flourish
where
Inventions and discoveries
Add unto human happiness,
To human knowledge add, and give
| To each fair daughter and brave son
Their fill of science, learning, art,
Rich classic and original.
| The eloquence of poetry
Is theirs to elevate and teach
Their minds 10 soar above the dry
And every day routine of facts
Its statesmen, wise philosophers,
| Contribute each unto the store
While artist rare of ftultess skill
| Attract and educate the taste,
To see and recognize in art
| All that it has OF beauty. In
The list of warriors, patriots shine
Stars of the first magnificence
In this worlds galaxy OF names
1t best remembers Jackson, Lee,
With Davis, Stephens, many more;
These will ever beam undimmed
Amid Times revolutions vast
In these her greatness dwells. In wise
| And equal laws should be her pride;
In constitution, free and just;
In government, comforting good;
In laws securing private rights;
In public virtue guarded WE'LL
In institutions fair sustained
By sweet benevolence; press,
Untrammelled, and pulpit, pure
And independent earnest, free.
By these maintained, will progress wheel
| Still onward roll as in the past,
Whose power like magicians wand
| With mighty touch has transformed all,
And made our glorious country bloom
AS tabled fairy land once seemed.
Ii facts were told
To men of old,
They'd surely say "you have but
With all these things TO fill our heads,
| What wonder, if with doubtful steps
We stand upon the verge of life
| Which now is all before u.s. Here
Tonight, we bid farewell to all
| The sweet associations Chains
| OF friendship welded, soon must break,
| AS life and all its duties, leads
Us each our several ways, and parts
| Those who together lo7 a time
Have traced the march of progress. How
| Shall we advance it on It's course
To bless the nations of the world?
Shall some of us delve deep in earth?
Shall some roam over oceans wave?
Shall some our country's rights deten d?
Shall some invent? and some apply
To newer uses precepts old
Ia science? better means prepare
To till the earth? its yield increase?
Or tell me, have near me now
The one who yet shall sail in air?
Der sea and land, DER mountain height?
The wheel ofprogressyet must make
Full many revolutions grand,
Ere can answer. Roll on, roll
Oh mighty progress! pause not, till
All nations shall united be,
Till man 10 man can e'er be true,
Till war shall cease, all people live
In sweet content; until the dove
Of peace shall be
From sea to sea
The emblem of prevailing love.