ored in our institutions; we had never before seen this nation
thundering like Mount Sinai at all those that worshiped the calf at
the base of the mountain. A people educated and moral are competent
to all the exigencies of national life. A vote can govern better
than a crown. We have proved it. A people intelligent and
religious are strong in all economic elements. They are fitted for
peace and competent to war. They are not easily inflamed, and, when
justly incensed, not easily extinguished. They are patient in
adversity, endure cheerfully needful burdens, tax themselves to meet
real wants more royally than any prince would dare to tax his
people. They pour forth without stint relief for the sufferings of
war, and raise charity out of the realm of a dole into a munificent
duty of beneficence. The habit of industry among free men prepares
them to meet the exhaustion of war with increase of productiveness
commensurate with the need that exists. Their habits of skill
enable them at once to supply such armies as only freedom can
muster, with arms and munitions such as only free industry can
create. Free society is terrible in war, and afterwards repairs the
mischief of war with celerity almost as great as that with which the
ocean heals the seams gashed in it by the keel of ploughing ships.
Free society is fruitful of military genius. It comes when called;
when no longer needed, it falls back as waves do to the level of the
common sea, that no wave may be greater than the undivided water.
With proof of strength so great, yet in its infancy, we stand up
among the nations of the world, asking no privileges, asserting no
rights, but quietly assuming our place, and determined to be second
to none in the race of civilization and religion. Of all nations we
are the most dangerous and the least to be feared. We need not
expound the perils that wait upon enemies that assault us. They are
sufficiently understood! But we are not a dangerous people because
we are warlike. All the arrogant attitudes of this nation, so
offensive to foreign governments, were inspired by slavery, and
under the administration of its minions. Our tastes, our habits,
our interests, and our principles, incline us to the arts of peace.
This nation was founded by the common people for the common people.
We are seeking to embody in public economy more liberty, with higher
justice and virtue, than have been organized before. By the
necessity