It is manifest enough that in a continent destined at no distant day to
contain its hundred millions, the question whether these shall form one
great nation or a collection of smaller states is one of fearful
importance. He who belongs to a _great_ nation is thereby great of
himself. He has the right to be proud, and will work out his life more
proudly and vigorously and freely than the dweller in a corner-country.
Do those men ever _reflect_, who talk so glibly of this government as
too large, and as one which must inevitably be sundered, to what a
degradation they calmly look forward! No; Union,--come what may,--now
and ever. Greatness is to every brave man a _necessity_. Out on the
craven and base-hearted who aspire to being less than the co-rulers of a
continent. See how vile and mean are those men who in the South have
lost all national pride in a small-minded provincial attachment to a
State, who love their local county better still, and concentrate their
real political interests in the feudal government of a plantation. Shall
_we_ be as such,--_we_, the men who hold the destinies of a hemisphere
within our grasp? Never,--God help us,--_never!_

On the basis of free labor we are pressing onward over the mighty West.
Two great questions now require grappling with. The one is, whether
slavery shall henceforth be tolerated; the other, whether we shall
strengthen this great government of the Union so as to preserve it in
future from the criminal intrigues of would-be seceding, ambitious men
of no principle. Now is the time to decide.

We must not be blind to a great opportunity which may be lost, of
forever quelling a foul nuisance which would, if neglected _now_, live
forever. Do we not see, feel, and understand what sort of _white men_
are developed by slavery, and do we intend to keep up such a race among