than that of the fate of the immigrants at Donner Lake.  The thoughtful magnanimity of Captain Philip of the “Texas” in the moment of victory, in the sea-fight at Santiago, when he checked his men “Don’t cheer, boys; the poor fellows are drowning” — is enshrined in the hearts of Americans that never thrilled with pride at Commodore Sloat’s solemn and patriotic proclamation upon landing his sailors to hoist the colors at Monterey, a proclamation as fine and dignified as a ritual, that should be committed to memory, as a part of his education, by every schoolboy in California[9].  Longfellow’s “Courtship of Miles Standish and Priscilla” is found in every book of declamations, and Bret Harte’s poem of the tragic love story of Rezanov and Concha Arguello in complete editions of his works[10].  Why herald the ridiculous attempt of Rhode Island to keep out of the Union, and not acclaim the splendid effort of California to break into it?

The importance to any community of its local history being incorporated in the national story in its proper proportion and perspective cannot be overestimated.  When in all the ten volumes of Thomas B. Reed’s magnificent collection, entitled “Modern Eloquence,” we find but one speech that was delivered in California, and that, while the ancient and admired anecdotage of Chauncey Depew is printed in detail, the flaming eloquence of E. D. Baker is absolutely ignored, and the only discourse reported of Thomas Starr King is one that he delivered in Boston, it is time for the dwellers on these Western shores to ask themselves whether these things have all happened by accident, or whether the older commonwealths of this country have been moved by a pride in their history and in their traditions to take such measures for their preservation and for the promotion of their publication as to put us to shame.

Let me not be misunderstood.  I would detract nothing from the glory of other sections of the country.  I would minimize nothing of any State’s accomplishment.  Some of them have a record that is almost a synonym for patriotism.  Their tradition is our inheritance; their achievement is our gain.  Wisconsin cannot become a veritable workshop of social and economic experiment without the nation being the beneficiary.  New England does not enrich her own literature without shedding luster on the literature of the nation.  They and theirs belong also to us and to ours.  Least of all, do I forget the old Bay State and her high tradition - State of Hancock and Warren, of John Quincy Adams and Webster, of Sumner and Phillips and Garrison and John A. Andrew, of Longfellow and Lowell and Whittier and Holmes.  Her hopes are my hopes; her fears are my fears.  May my heart cease its beating if, in any presence or under any pressure, it fail to respond an Amen to the Puritan’s prayer:  “God save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”