else. It is not a national
Christianity, but a Christian nation, which I desire to see; and if
this wish betray an unfriendly feeling towards republican principles,
then I must bear the reproach, but I shall not bear it alone.
Thousands and thousands of hearts wish the same, and pray for it
morning and night, year after year; and if the answer to that prayer
come not before they die, they will have taught it to another
generation, who will not fail to repeat it,--I trust, with a hope
brightened by the nearer prospect of its fulfilment. It may be said,
that our demands are unreasonable, and our aims impracticable. But our
demands only include the righteousness of the land, and our aims are
addressed to the sanctification of the people by means of that
religion which has shown that it is fitted to exercise universal
dominion, by the triumphs it has secured in every condition of society
and every situation of life. It may be said, that things are in a
sufficiently good state; that the country is at peace, though some men
and some writers are doing their utmost to involve it in war; that our
public men succeed in keeping the wheels of government in motion,
though they sometimes discover a deplorable lack both of skill and of
principle; and that the people are, on the whole, virtuous and perhaps
religious, if they do not connect their religion with their politics.
I do not believe that those whom I address will say that this
description satisfies their desires in behalf of the American
Republic. And if it do not, what is our duty but to contribute all the
influence we can bestow, by speech or example, to introduce a change?
It may be said yet again, that a change is going on; the world is
growing better, and if we will only be patient, we shall grow better
too, because we belong to the world and cannot be left behind. Once
more I say in reply, that I am not content with no greater progress
than the old States of Europe, burthened with the institutions of dark
ages and tottering with infirmity, are able to make. It is for us to
encourage them, by the spectacle of what may be accomplished by young
and unshackled energies. It is for us to do the world a greater
service than it has yet received through achievements wrought on this
soil. We have asserted the principles of political _liberty_, and
established them above the reach of overthrow. It remains for us to
vindicate the principles of political _virtue_. We have placed the