Page:The New England tour of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales (1860) .djvu/11

 INTRODUCTORY.

The reception of the Prince of Wales in the United States affords abundant proof of the depth and sincerity of the affection which is felt by our people for the mother country. Generations have passed since the separation ; those of us now on the stage of action have been reared under democratic institutions ; the distinctions of rank on which the British constitution is based are repugnant to our ideas of justice ; royalty in itself has no awe for us, and a monarch has no respect except so far as he is a wise and humane ruler ; we create our own Honorables and choose to be misgoverned in our own way ; but nevertheless the stoutest advocate of Equality and Fraternity will acknowledge that, practically, England is free, and that her influence is generally thrown against despotism everywhere. The principles which have ripened into republicanism here exist as well among our elder brethren ; our laws were drawn from a common source ; the spirit and temper of the race is the same on either side of the Atlantic ; and though progress in England may be slower, it is not difficult to foretell the day when the cause of the people against privilege will be finally successful.

It is with no abatement of our love for popular rights that we have welcomed the heir to the British throne. He has been received as the representative of the venerable mother of us all. In whatever England takes a pride, we have a share ; if industry and skill have made her island a garden, — if commerce has earned her products with her language and refining arts to the remotest parts of the earth, — if good order and social virtues are her peculiar boast among modern nations, — if in literature, science, political economy, and enlightened jurisprudence, she has an acknowledged preeminence, we may in all rightfully claim a portion of the glory. Her literature is ours also ; the great poets, historians, orators, and judges have lived and written for us,"and not alone for the island that gave them birth. Side by side we have gone on in the path of improvement ; in the useful arts we give as much as we have received ; our ships are competitors in every port ; and our authors are as well known and as warmly admired in London as at home.

The relations between the two countries are of the most intimate character. Not to speak of the myriad ties which commerce has woven, friendships have grown up which will be perpetuated and strengthened every year. Every American who has visited England will feel a lifelong attachment to the land of his forefathers, for he will remember that there he was treated as a kinsman, — that British exclusiveness melted at the sound of a common language, and that his nationality alone was a sufficient passport. The class of cultivated Englishmen, on the other hand, who have made the tour of this country have gone back with impressions as pleasant, and, we believe, as lasting. There is no longer any need of jealousy or distrust between the two foremost nations of the world. With common sympathies, with similar ideas, with hereditary boldness, prudence, and the capacity for organization, they will go on until they have belted the world with colonies, in turn becoming the nucleus of new, powerful, and free States.

We rejoice exceedingly that the future King of Great Britain has been induced to visit, not only the still loyal colonies, but the equally friendly republic. We regard this as a proof of the good will of the Government, and believe it will do more than any single thing to perpetuate the friendly relations of the two peoples.

In the course of his tour the Prince and suite have had some opportunity to judge of the material condition of the country ; they have seen populous cities that have sprung up within the memory of men of middle age ; they have seen lakes and rivers covered with steamboats ; they have traversed long lines of railways ; and, on the seaboard, at least, they have seen capitals which, in spite of their new and unfinished look, may compare favorably with some of the most wealthy cities of the old world. It was proper, furthermore, that he should be able to see the social condition of the people, and for this purpose, considering the age and character of the guest, nothing could be so agreeable as a ball in each large centre of population. A dinner, it is true, is the highest achievement of civilization. Take twelve "picked