its remoteness, where the
little church of Leyden might enjoy the freedom of conscience? Behold the
_mighty regions_ over which, in _peaceful conquest_, ... they have borne
the banners of the cross!"(742)

"And he had two horns like a lamb." The lamb-like horns indicate youth,
innocence, and gentleness, fitly representing the character of the United
States when presented to the prophet as "coming up" in 1798. Among the
Christian exiles who first fled to America, and sought an asylum from
royal oppression and priestly intolerance, were many who determined to
establish a government upon the broad foundation of civil and religious
liberty. Their view found place in the Declaration of Independence, which
sets forth the great truth that "all men are created equal," and endowed
with the inalienable right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness." And the Constitution guarantees to the people the right of
self-government, providing that representatives elected by the popular
vote shall enact and administer the laws. Freedom of religious faith was
also granted, every man being permitted to worship God according to the
dictates of his conscience. Republicanism and Protestantism became the
fundamental principles of the nation. These principles are the secret of
its power and prosperity. The oppressed and down-trodden throughout
Christendom have turned to this land with interest and hope. Millions have
sought its shores, and the United States has risen to a place among the
most powerful nations of the earth.

But the beast with lamb-like horns "spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth
all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and
them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound
was healed; and ... saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they
should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword and did
live."(743)

The lamb-like horns and dragon voice of the symbol point to a striking
contradiction between the professions and the practice of the nation thus
represented. The "speaking" of the nation is the action of its legislative
and judicial authorities. By such action it will give the lie to those
liberal and peaceful principles which it has put forth as the foundation
of its policy. The prediction that it will speak "as a dragon," and
exercise "all the power of the first beast," plainly foretells a
development of the spirit of intolerance and persecution th