The counsel of these brave and generous men prevailed. Some light from the better world illumined their souls and strengthened their hearts. Behind them surged and beat the great tide of popular enthusiasm. The people, ever alive to heroic purpose; the people whose honest instincts are often the wisest statesmanship- the people waited but for the word; ready to fight, ready to die, if need be, for independence. And so God's will was done upon the earth. The word was spoken, the "Declaration" was made that gave life and name to the "United States of America," and a new nation breathed and looked into the future, daring all the best or the worst that future might bring. If that declaration became a signal of rescue and relief to countries far away, what word can describe the miracles it has wrought for this people here at home? It was a spell, a talisman, an armor of proof, and a sword of victory. The undisciplined throng of citizen soldiers, taught in the stern school of hardship and reverse, soon grew to be a great army, before which the veterans of Britain recoiled. Europe, surprised into sympathy with rebellion, sent her best and bravest here to fight the battle of freedom, and Lafayette of France, De Kalb of Germany, Kosciusko of Poland, and their compeers, drew their bright swords in the ranks of the young republic. Best support of all was that calm, fearless, steadfast soul, which, undismayed in the midst of peril and disaster, undaunted amid wreck and ruin, stood like a tower, reflecting all that was best and noblest in the character of the American people, and personifying its resolute will. Happy is that nation to whom, in its hour of need, bountiful Heaven provides a leader so brave and wise, so suited to guide and rule, as was, in that early crisis of the American republic, its foremost man — George Washington. Thus, from the baptism of blood, the young nation came forth purified, triumphant, free. Then the mystic influence, the magic of her accomplished freedom, began to work, and the thoughts of men, and the powers of earth and air and sea, began to do her bidding and cast their treasures at her feet. From the thirteen parent colonies thirty-eight great states and territories have been born. At first a broad land of forest and prairie stretched far and wide, needing only the labor of man to render it fruitful. Men came; across the Atlantic, breasting its storms, sped mighty fleets, carrying hither brigades and divisions of the grand army of labor. On they came, in columns mightier than ever king led to battle in columns millions strong - to conquer a continent, not to havoc and desolation, but to fertility and wealth, and order and happiness. They came from field and forest in the noble German land from where, amid cornfield and vineyard and flowers, the lordly Rhine flows proudly towards the sea; from Ireland from heath-covered hill and grassy valley, from where the giant cliffs standing as sentinel for Europe meet the first shock of the Atlantic and hurl back its surges broken and shattered in foam. From France and Switzerland, from Italy and Sweden, from all the winds of heaven, they came; and as their battle line advanced, the desert fell back subdued, and in its stead sprang up corn and fruit, the olive and the vine, and gardens that blossomed like the rose. Of triumphs like these who can estimate the value? The population of three millions a hundred years ago has risen to forty-three millions to-day. We have great cities, great manufactures, great commerce, great wealth, great luxury and splendor. Seventy-four thousand miles of railway conquer distance, and make all our citizens neighbors to one another. All these things are great and good, and can be turned to good. But they are not all. Whatever fate may befall this republic, whatever vicissitudes or disasters may be before her, this praise, at least, can never be denied to her, this glory she has won forever, that for one hundred years she has been hospitable and generous; that she gave to the stranger a welcome -opened to him all the treasures of her liberty, gave him free scope for all his ability, a free career, and fair play. And this it is that most endears this republic to other nations, and has made fast friends for her in the homes of the people all over the earth; not her riches, nor her nuggets of gold, not her mountains of silver, not her prodigies of mechanical skill, great and valuable though these things be. It is this that most of all makes her name beloved and honored; that she has been always broad and liberal in her sympathies; that she has given homes to the homeless, land to the landless; that she has secured for the greatest number of those who have dwelt on her wide domain a larger measure of liberty and peace and happiness, and for a greater length of time, than has ever been enjoyed by any other people on this earth. For this reason, the peoples all over the earth, and through all time, will call this republic blessed. - From an Oration on the "Centenary of American Freedom," 1876. MARMION AND DOUGLAS. BY SIR WALTER SCOTT. Not far advanced was morning day, To Surrey's camp to ride; He had safe conduct for his band, The train from out the castle drew, 66 My manors, halls, and bowers shall still Be open, at my sovereign's will, To each one whom he lists, howe'er My castles are my king's alone, The hand of Douglas is his own: And never shall, in friendly grasp, Burned Marmion's swarthy cheek like fire, And shook his very frame for ire; "An 'twere not for thy hoary beard, Here, in thy hold, thy vassals near, Lord Angus, thou hast lied!" On the Earl's cheek the flush of rage Fierce he broke forth, "And dar'st thou then To beard the lion in his den, The Douglas in his hall? And hop'st thou hence unscathed to go? Up drawbridge, grooms, what, warder, ho! Let the portcullis fall." Lord Marmion turned, — well was his need, Like arrow through the archway sprung: |