Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/172

 THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS powerful and generous people, worthy to be a central pivot of American institutions. A few short months only have passed since this spa- cious and mediterranean country was open only to the savage who ran wild in its woods and prairies; and now it has already drawn to its bosom a population of freemen larger than Athens crowded within her historic gates, when her sons, under Miltiades, won liberty for man- kind on the field of Marathon ; more than Sparta contained when she ruled Greece, and sent forth her devoted children, quickened by a mother's benediction, to return with their shields, or on them; more than Rome gathered on her seven hills, when, under her kings, she commenced that sovereign sway, which afterward embraced the whole earth; more than London held, when, on the fields of Crecy and Agincourt, the Eng- lish banner was carried victoriously over the chivalrous hosts of France. Against this Territory, thus fortunate in position and population, a crime has been com- mitted, which is without example in the records of the past. Not in plundered provinces or in the cruelties of selfish governors will you find its parallel ; and yet there is an ancient instance, which may show at least the path of justice. Li the terrible inpeachment by which the great Roman orator has blasted through all time the name of Verres, amid charges of robbery and sacrilege, the enormity which most aroused the indignant voice of his accuser, and which still 162