The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-12-04
LOOKING ACROSS TIE PAorFTo
walt whitman's Prophecy OF Our Colonial
Possessions.


To THE EDITOR OF TN suN-Sir, The grow
ing popularity Of Walt Whitman. both in Eng
land and America. Is q sure index OF his abiding
place In the republic OF letters. His voice is
lifted to a pitch for the ages to hear. and his
words will yet sound to the ends OF the world.
But we Americans should especially prize
him as the largest and most spiritual interpret
ter OF our institutions. never understood my
country nor loved it for It's mission until I
read and reread Leaves Of Grass one ode to
democracy from first to last.
Whitman Is more than a poet; he Ia q seer
and prophet. He reads what is to be and writes
II. In Bible style. in a language splendid as the
optimism that possessed his entire being. No
American boy or girl should fail to read him.
l venture to inclose a selection from his poem
entitled "A Broadway Pageant" written about
1851. on the occasion OF the visit to New York
city Of two ENJOYS Extraordinary from China.
who received on Broadway great ovation from
the thousands there gathered. 1t begins:
Over the Western sea hither from Nippon coma,
Courteous. the swArtcheek'd two-sworded Enjoys,
Leaning back In their open barouches, bareheaded,
lmpassivc.
Ride to-day through Manhattan.
Mbertadl dc not know whether others beheld what
Ibehold
In the procession, along with the mobiles of Nippon.
the errand bearers,
Bringing up the rear, lowering above. around, or in
the ranks marching,
But will sing you . song of whntI behold. Iibertad.
Then he proceeds to outline the real and spir-
itual meaning Of this visit OF the Orient to the
Ocoident. 1.-The Asiatio continent. the murky
nieht-morning Of wonder and fable lnscruta-
BILE" as he terms II. and now at last inspecting
our Western world. For behind these two En-
voys he sees the eyes OF all the population OF
China, Malaysia. Tibet, and Polynesia looking
at us, and he says:
lam seized by them, and friendly held by them.
Till as hero them all I chant Libertad for them.
solves and for You.
Then he proceeds to utter this remarkable
prophecy. which the Commissioners Of Paris
have made a possible reality close at hand. He
seems to be looking out over the Pacific and
sees our future In the islands and lands be-
yond. our new imperialism"
Ichant the world on my Western sea.
I chant copious thu islAnds beyond, thick ~ starn
In the sky:
IehaHt The neO Empire erdHdsr han any berors. a. in q
rfsion 81 comes 10 me-;
I chant America he nistrus, I chant q greater rt-
prsRaev:
lehhnt projected a thousand blooming cities yet in
time on those groups Of sea islands;
Ny sailships and steamships threading the archi-
polagoos.
my otarS ana StripeS nuttering in the wind,
Commerce opening. the sleep of ages having doneits
work. races reborn. refresh'd,
Lives, works resumed-the object I know not-but
the old, the Asiatc renew'd 90 IL must be,
Commencing from this day surrounded by the world.
All OF this. written nearly forty years ago, I
call q most remarkable vision - indeed, q real
prophecy. truly Biblical In the light Of this
glorious hour OF our new empire beyond. I
this and all else Whitman has written
to those who see not as Caleb aud Joshua saw,
but who fear the Inhabitants OF those lands
and the giant problems there. We are we'll
able to 60 up and possess what God hath given
US. mot because OF our own righteousness, but
for the wickedness Of their peoples" 1t IL this
courage and vision that Whitman had, and that
We all need to have.
And so. In the words Of this grand old bard,
our real American Homer. we can ask:
We're tho children atraying westward 20 lonef 20 |
wide the trampingi
were the precedent dim ages debouchine Westward
from Paradise 90 iongp
We're the centuries steadily footing that way, all the |
while unknown, for you. America, for reasons |
But they are justified. they are accomplished, they
shall now be turned the other way also, to |
travel toward you thence.
They shall now also march obediently eastward for
your sake. Libartadi'
The Good Gray Poet saw all that we see, and
beyond-the day Of Christ, when men shall
worship Him. every one from his place, even
all the isles Jle heathen."
Rev. ARTHUR COPELAND.
SENECA FALLS. Dec. 2.