The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28


And held their pastimes in thy forest sIades;
Earth's golden age returning seemed again.
And peace and plenty crowned the wea Plain.
Here the thronged village OF the Nation rose.
Pride OF their friends, and terror of their foes:
Here the young warriors. gathered on the green.
In warlike sports and manly games were seen;
Or bore he rugged trophies OF the chase
Proudly to deck their humble dwelling place:
Or In the friendly shelter of the grove
Rehearsed in conscious their tales OF love:
Here the grave council held their stern debate
To guard the welfare of the savage state;
Or gave an audience to some honored guest
From kindred nations of the grea: Northwest:
Then would the tale go round of other days.
And fervid lips pronounce their nations praise;
Or speak of oniless blessings held in store
For the free Indian this lovely shore.
Alas. deceitful hopes! too soon to fade!
Their strength and pride low In the dust are laid.
Remembered only IN the plying lay
OF those who triumph over their decay
Nor marvel we the Indian loved 90 well
The land where he had fondiy hoped to dwell:
Nor that he strove. with deeds and words of
might.
To save his home and vindicate his right.
This was the red mans paradise of old.
Dearer to him than midas burning gold
Dearer than aught which Nature can AFFORD
To him who submission to lord
To him who, severed from his fathers graves,
Survives to nee his FRIENDS and kindred slaves.
Beneath the star of Wayne and Harrison
His hopes are blighted-his career is run.
Tecumsehs spirit yet. perchance may glide
At midnight DER dark Wabash's rolling tide,
wailing DER scenes of pride and glory past.
Or pouring shouts Of vengeance on the blast.
The rule of might has swept them from the stage
And given to US their lovely heritage;
And while the muse pays tribute to their fate
She honors still the founders Of our State.
Adventurous sons of France! to you belong
The foremost honors OF our grateful song:
(France glorious home of brave and generous
hearts,
The nurse Of genius, sciences and artsD
The fairest portions OF the mighty West
Were FIRST by your unquiet footsteps prest;
Long. long in peace your pastoral empire rose.
Tapped by wild Nature in benign repose
Your savage brethren owned your gentle sway.
And Faith and Love attended on your way.
What scenes renowned, o River! thou dost view!
Idy pen unskilled may not the theme pursue:
Old Post vincennes. where Clark his legions led,
"a drawer band in battle never bled-
Earth knows no deed Of ioftier emprise.
Supremer daring, toll and sacrifce)-
Where hess who trayased Syria's burning plains,
And wept DER queeniy Tadmor's lone remains.
Came in his simple Pilgrim garb to trace
The rising empire Of a kindred race:
The panoramic stage OF wild romance.
Led by the peerless chivalry Of France
Nor pass here unnoted on thy shore
marvel OF the days which are no more
Dream of an Earthly Paradise come true.
Materiaiixing into actual view
Not In the fashion Of the dream elysian,
Yet scarce less wondrous to the waking vision.
Here the shrine Of Science, Learning. Art
And generous culture of the mind and heart;
And ere the savage scarce had passed away
Here clear and bright dawned Education's day.
New Harmony became a spell Of Fame;
From far and earth's seers and savants
came
To garner learning's wealth and wisdoms stores,
Illumining our own and distant shores
Grand benefactioni though its sun has set,
Its blessed influence fingers with us yet!
Reverse the picture of our State of yore.
Ere foot of white man had impressed her shore;
How changed in that brief intervening space
The empire and the annals OF our race,
The sturdy woodsman early made his home
And dared all dangers mid the forests gloom:
With courage clustering braggarts never knew,
Repealed the invasions Of the savage crew;
With honest. guileIess heart. but stalwart form.
He wrought obscurely but the cultured plain
Bears rich memorials of his peaceful reign.
Now on our thousand streams smile fertile farms,
Adorned with CIVILIZATIONS countless charms:
Orchards and gardens perfume every gale,
The sounds Of busy. merry life prevail;
Altar, around, on every lovely height
The quiet homestead rises on the sight;
And towers the dome. each honest Hoosier's
pride,
Upon its own romantic rivers side.
Where legislators sovereign powers abide.
Shrined In our famous capital, whose name
Reflects that of the State and crowns her fame
Such are the treasures to our empire given
BY ungrudging hand of bounteous heaven
Our hills and dales our lakes and teeming floods,
Our blooming fields and our majestic woods.
Our towns and hamlets mid the forest glade.
Where late the Indian and the wild deer strayed;
Our teeming cities. grazing every part
The homes OF Commerce, Science. Culture. Art;
Our Public Scholastic blessed Peoples Col.
| Widening and cheapenins the sway Of knowI-
edge:
Our seats of learning and Industrial skill.
Our lines of trade and travel growing still;
Our hardy yeomanry. beyond debate.
The hope and lifeblood of State.
Yes! Virtue glows in many humble breast
Her patriot-pride admits alien sway
She lives, though Senates and though thrones
decay
And waste In moral rottenness away;
Remote from errors maze, to her tits given
To light the lamp of Freedom pure from heaven;
And soulless demagogues may strive in vain
The sacred prize from her firm hands to gain
Oh. now 'gainst every danger which impends.
Who will not strive among his country's friends
Surely each Hoosier, he stops to trace
The attractions of his chosen dwelling place;
/ The thousand ties which bind him to his home,
Which he has rescued from the forests gloom:
| VIII feel with honest pride his bosom swell,
While gazing the scene he loves well;
| And with fcrvor mocking all decay
| Shall, with devotion. look TO heaven and say:
My Native Land. to thee. to thee I owe
All that am or hope to be below;
| / gain support from thy maternal breast
| 1 hope in death upon thy lap to rest:
| prize thy peace, thy honor as my own;
| In life or death will thy wrongs atone;
Ny heart, and soul, and strength, an offerins
4, Free
| Are meet sacrifice to God and theep'
| San Marcos. Tex.
| ssyolney