[Laughter.] We claim to be, and whether
it be due to the ministers of New England, or to the higher type of
manhood, of which Mr. Beecher speaks--which latter doctrine I prefer to
submit to--I don't care which, there is in human nature a spark of
mischief, a spark of danger, which in the aggregate will make force as
necessary for the government of mankind as the Almighty finds the
electric fluid necessary to clear the atmosphere. [Applause.]
You speak in your toast of "honored names"; you are more familiar with
the history of your country than I am, and know that the brightest pages
have been written on the battle-field. Is there a New Englander here who
would wipe "Bunker Hill" from his list for any price in Wall Street? Not
one of you! Yet you can go out into Pennsylvania and find a thousand of
bigger hills which you can buy for ten dollars an acre. It is not
because of its money value, but because Warren died there in defence of
your government which makes it so dear to you. Turn to the West. What
man would part with the fame of Harrison and of Perry? They made the
settlement of the great Northwest by your Yankees possible. They opened
that highway to you, and shall no honor be given to them? Had it not
been for the battles on the Thames by Harrison, and by Perry on Lake
Erie, the settlement of the great West would not have occurred by New
England industry and thrift.
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