LA SALLE
EXPLORER OF THE MISSISSIPPI
Battling, through trackless lands, 'gainst savage foes;
Striving, enduring, knowing the bitterness
Of foul betrayal, still in front he goes;
Onward through swamp and forest see him press,
Proud, silent, suffering, misunderstood;
The weight he bore, it seemed that no man could;
Then at the last, when the infernal stroke
Fell, 't was as if the silent leader spoke:
"This river I first traced to the far sea—
If monument I need, this let it be;
Then shall I live with the chief sons of time.
This is the path of empire: onward to empire climb!"
INAUGURATION DAY
On this great day a child of time and fate
On a new path of power doth stand and wait.
Tho' heavy-burdened shall his heart rejoice,
Dowered with a nation's faith, an empire's choice.
Who hath no strength, but that the people give,
And in their wills, alone, his will doth live.
On this one day, this, this, is their one man,
The well-beloved, the chief American!
Whose people are his brothers, fathers, sons:
In this his strength, and not a million guns.
