In  this  presence  and  in  the  atmosphere  of  these  reflections,
we  should  not  miss  the  lesson  they  commend  to  us,  nor  fail  to
renew  our  appreciation  of  the  value  of  this  citizenship,  and
revive  our  apprehension  of  the  sentiments  and  conditions  in
which  it  has  its  rise  and  growth.
And  first  of  all  we  should  be  profoundly  grateful  that  the
elements  which  make  up  the  strength  and  vigor  of  American
citizenship  are  so  naturally  related  to  our  situation  and  are  so
simple.  The  intrigues  of  monarchy  which  taint  the  individual
character  of  the  subject ;  the  splendor  which  dazzles  the  pop-
ular eye  and  distracts  the  attention  from  abuses  and  stifles
discontent  ;  the  schemes  of  conquest  and  selfish  aggrandize-
ment which  make  a  selfish  people,  have  no  legitimate  place  in
our  national  life.  Here  the  plain  people  of  the  land  are  the
rulers.  Their  investiture  of  power  is  only  accomj^anied  with
the  conditions  that  they  should  love  their  country,  that  they
should  jealously  guard  and  protect  its  interests  and  fair  fame,
and  that  all  the  intelligence  with  which  they  are  endowed
should  be  devoted  to  an  understanding  of  its  needs  and  the
promotion  of  its  welfare.
These  are  the  elements  of  American  citizenship,  and  these
are  the  conditions  upon  which  our  free  institutions  were  in-
trusted to  our  people,  in  full  reliance,  at  the  beginning  and  for
all  time  to  come,  upon  American  manhood,  consecrated  by  the
highest  and  purest  patriotism.
