For centuries nations have employed patriotic songs to inspire courage and love of country. France has long sung her “Marseillaise,” Norway the “Song of the Battle Axe,” England, “God Save the King,” but the best of all is our national hymn:
“My country, ’tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrim’s pride;
From every mountain side
Let freedom ring.”
The United States is a name, a synonym for greatness, richness and beauty. Precious memories are clustered about it. Great names are associated with it. Its praise is eulogized in lyric song, applauded in legislative halls, inscribed on gorgeous banners, lisped by juvenile tongues and honored by all nations.
In the year 1820 Sydney Smith, of England, asked the famous questions, “In the four quarters of the globe who reads an American book? or looks at an American picture, or statue? What new constellations have been discovered by the telescopes of Americans? What have they done in mathematics? Who drinks out of American glasses? or eats from American plates? or wears American coats or gowns? or sleeps in American blankets?” If Sydney Smith had lived a half-century longer he would have found the food-stuffs, clothing, literature, inventions, gold and influence of “this self-adulating race,” controlling the markets of the world more than any other. America has invaded the business centres of every nation, has set a pace in civilization and evangelization that few can maintain, has become a peace factor among the warlike people of all continents and in most everything, as Herbert Spencer said of our mechanical appliances, is “ahead of all nations.”