13 now know, from the terror felt in our large seaboard cities of a visit from some Merrimac or other iron-clad, how exposed we were to sudden assault and destruction of property along our extended coasts. We did not feel our peril ; but it was real. This war has changed all that. It has done much to render this nation safe. It is a great good, and should deepen our thankfulness this day. VI. This war is augmenting our moral power, as a nation. By moral power, I mean here the force with which we speak as a nation to other nations. We have looked at ourselves complacently as a great Republic. We have not candidly looked at ourselves from the stand-point of the great powerful nationalities of the Old World. They are monarchies ; how do republics appear to them ? That must be considered when estimating our moral power ? “ O wad some Pow’r the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us, An’ foolish notion.” It must be confessed that republics have not attained to much moral force in the world. 1 hat of Greece succumbed to a monarchy ; that of Rome to the imperial autocracy. The French Republic showed mighty energy; but where is it? France is
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