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Show iLAND OF OUR FOREFATHERS Edward Everett's Trlbuts to England the Cradle and Refuge of Frt Principle For myself 1 can truly say that after my native rand I feel a tender-nee tender-nee and a reverence ror that of my fathers The pride 1 take in my owii country makes me respect that from which we are sprung. The sound of my native language beyond the sea la a mwelc to rn ears beyond the richest rich-est strains of Tuscan softness or Oa-tillan Oa-tillan majesty I am not I need not say I am not the panegyrist of England I am not ji dasilsd by her riches nor awed by her power The scepter, the miter and the ooroiksx. stars, garters and rib- j bona seem to me poor things for great man to coat and for But England Is the cradle and the I refnge of free principle, though often 1 persecuted; the school of religious liberty, the more precious for the struggles through which it has passed; she holds the tombs of those who have j reflected honor on all who speak the English tongue, she is the birthplace ' of oar fathers, the home of the Pll- I grlma; It Is these which I love and venerate In England. I should feel ashamed of an enthu stasm for Italy and Greece did I Dot also feel It for a land like this In an American It would seem to be degenerate de-generate and ungrateful to hang with paasion upon the traces of Homer and Virgil and follow without emotion the nearer and plainer footsteps of Shakespeare and Milton. I should think him cold In love for his native land who felt no melting In his heart for that other native country which 1 holds the ashes of his forefathers. Edward Everett. |