The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-15
PRESS COMMENT
FIorida's Official
Hundreth Birthday.

AIAhAi Shh
On the 10th of July, 1821-one hun
dred years ago Sunday-the Spanish
flag, which had waved over Florida
since it's discovery in 1912 by Ponce d,
Leon, was lowered and the flag o
Stars and Stripes raised to the breeze
where it has stirred in the soft south
ern winds during the most eventfu
century of history, and where it viii
fly for all centuries to come.
The treaty by which Florida cams
into possession of the American gov.
eminent was ratified some month:
beforeJ but the official end of Spanish
rule, the beginning of another unit il
the great sisterhood of states date.
from July 10, 1921.
In his History and Antiquities of st
Augustine George r. Fairbanks, vice.
president of the Florida Historical so.
ciety in 1858, tells of the formal trans.
fer and the results of it:
1T was intended that the change
of flags should have taken place
on the Fourth of July; owing to a
detention this was frustrated; but
the inhabitants celebrated the
Fourth with a handsome public
ball at the governors house.
THE Spanish garrison and Of
ficers connected with it returned
to Cuba, and some of the Spanish
families; but the larger portion of
the inhabitants remained. A con-
siderable influx of inhabitants
from the adjoining states took
place, and the town speedily as
sumed a somewhat American
character. The proportion Of
American population since the
change of flags, has been about
one-third. Most of the native in
habitants converse with equal
fluency in either language"
Then telling of the legislature and
the first governor, Mr.. Fairbanks says:
'In the year 1923 the legislative
council of Florida held it's second
session at the Government house
in st. Augustine. Governor w. p.
Duva1 was the first governor af-
ter the organization of the territory.
The Ralph Ringwood Sketches of
Irving have given a wide celebrity
and original first governor, now
recently deceased"
ct will be remembered that this his
tory was written in 1889
AS an American state, during its
short life of one hundred years, Flori-
da has forged to the front and today
stands in the front rank of states.
The history of the state reads like
a romance-the unofficial as well as
official history.
The official history is one of pro-
made possible by the heroic labors OF
the earlier settlers and the generations
that have followed them. Naturally the
history of the state interweaves with
the history of the great American 1e-
public, for since that memorable day
in 1921, when the flag of the new ma
tion was hoisted at st. Petersburg,
Florida has contributed of her wealth
and blood into the building of this
great nation. And while helping make
national history, history making has
been going on within the state. The
sons and daughters of Florida have a
right to feel proud of this history. 1t
is the story of the wonderful labors CT
their forefathers of the past two or
three nerations-and the generations
to follow, likewise, shall have cause to
be proud. This history is the record Of
great achievements.
The unofficial history is one of in
teresting legends, romantic adventures
and virile pioneers. The unwritten
stories of a pioneer section are the
most interesting, and time adds fas-
women living in Florida today who
can remember when enormous stretch
es, which today are the scene of mans
activities, were veritable wildernesses,
except by Indians and the
wild animals they hunted.
Florida is today called the Garden
Spot of America-and everything en-
tering into the reason for this de-
sub-name has been developed
within one century. There are older
states, but none blessed with more
wonderful natural assets and citizen
ries determined to develop them.
The first hundred years of official
history have been marvellous; the sue
ceeding century will be even more
narvelous.-Florida Metropolis.
Heroes.
A pugilist, having won champion
ship contest. is straightway regarded
e.,