What is the key of this rapid wonderful change?  The glorious cities of old were founded by heroes whom posterity called demi-gods, and whose name survived their work by thousands of years.  Who is your hero?  Who stood god-father at the birth of the Queen of the West?

I looked to history and found not his name.  But instead of one mortal man’s renowned name, I find in the records of your city’s history an immortal being’s name, and that is, the people.  The word sparkles with the lustre of a life invigorating flame, and that flame is LIBERTY.  Freedom, regulated by wise institutions, based upon the great principle of national independence and self-government; this is the magical rod by which the great enchanter, “the people,” has achieved this wonderful work.

Sir, there is a mighty change going on in human development.  Formerly great things were done by great men, whose names stand in history like milestones, marking the march of mankind on the highway of progress.  It was mankind which marched, and still it passed unnoticed and unknown.  Of him history has made no record, but of the milestones only, and has called them great men.  The lofty frame of individual greatness overshadowed the people, who were ready to follow but not prepared to go without being led.  Humanity and its progress was absorbed by individualities; because the people which stood low in the valley got giddy by looking up to the mountain’s top, where its leaders stood.  It was the age of childhood for nations.  Children cling to the leading strings as to a necessity, and feel it a benefit to be led.

But the leaders of nations changed soon into kings.  Ambition claimed as a right what merit had gained as a free offering.  Arrogance succeeded to greatness; and out of the child-like attachment for benefits received, the duty of blind obedience was framed by the iron hand of violence, and by the craft of impious hypocrisy, degrading everything held for holy by men—­religion itself—­into a tool of oppression on earth.  It was the era of uncontroverted despotism, which, with sacrilegious arrogance, claimed the title of divine rank; and mankind advanced slowly in progress, because it was not conscious of its own aim.  Oppression was taken for a gloomy fatality.

The scene has changed.  Nations have become conscious of their rights and destiny, and will tolerate no masters, nor will suffer oppression any longer.  The spirit of freedom moves through the air; and remember, that you are morally somewhat responsible for it, inasmuch as it is your glorious struggle for independence which was the first upheaving of mankind’s heart roused to self-conscious life.  Even by that first effort she gloriously achieved the national independence of America.  Though gifted with all the blessings of nature’s virginal vitality, you would never have succeeded to achieve this wonderful growth which we see, if you had employed your conquered national independence merely to take a new master for the old one.