Republicans, if of any political faith whatever! We may quit the
Ancient Classical concern, and leave it to College-clubs and
speculative debating-societies, in these late days.

Of the various French Republics that have been tried, or that are
still on trial,--of these also it is not needful to say any word.
But there is one modern instance of Democracy nearly perfect, the
Republic of the United States, which has actually subsisted for
threescore years or more, with immense success as is affirmed; to
which many still appeal, as to a sign of hope for all nations,
and a "Model Republic." Is not America an instance in point?
Why should not all Nations subsist and flourish on Democracy, as
America does?

Of America it would ill beseem any Englishman, and me perhaps as
little as another, to speak unkindly, to speak unpatriotically,
if any of us even felt so. Sure enough, America is a great, and
in many respects a blessed and hopeful phenomenon. Sure enough,
these hardy millions of Anglo-Saxon men prove themselves worthy
of their genealogy; and, with the axe and plough and hammer, if
not yet with any much finer kind of implements, are triumphantly
clearing out wide spaces, seedfields for the sustenance and
refuge of mankind, arenas for the future history of the world;
doing, in their day and generation, a creditable and cheering
feat under the sun. But as to a Model Republic, or a model
anything, the wise among themselves know too well that there is
nothing to be said. Nay the title hitherto to be a Commonwealth
or Nation at all, among the [Gr.] _ethne_ of the world, is,
strictly considered, still a thing they are but striving for, and
indeed have not yet done much towards attaining. Their