John Charles Frémont

Pathfinder--and Path-clincher!
Who blazed the way, indeed,
But more--who made the eternal Fact
Whereto a path had need;
Who, while our Websters set at naught
The thing that Was to Be,
Whipped-out our halting, half-way map
Full to the Other Sea!

'Twas well that there were some could read
The logic of the West!
A Kansas-edged geography,
Of provinces confessed,
Became potential Union
And took a Nation's span
When God sent Opportunity
And Benton found the Man!