But I am one, Antony, who look forward with steadfast hope and belief
to a reaction from our present vulgarity, and to a reascension of
England to a greater dignity, honour, and nobleness both in its public
and private life than is observable to-day.
Your loving old
G.P.
27
MY DEAR ANTONY,
I have not in my letters to you travelled beyond our own islands in
search of great English prose, but I propose now to make one
divergence from this rule and quote a very great and deservedly
far-famed speech, uttered on a memorable occasion, of Abraham
Lincoln, President of the United States.
At the present time, I think, the name of Lincoln lies closer to the
hearts of the American people than that of any other, not even
excepting Washington and Hamilton. The latter, though they
established American independence, remained in a personal sense
English gentlemen till their death. Lincoln was born in the backwoods in
rude poverty, received no education but what he acquired by his own
unaided efforts, and lived and died a man of the people, the ideal type
of native-born American.
He rose from the lowest to the highest position in the State, borne
upwards by the simple nobility of his character, by the stainless purity
of his actions, and the splendid motive of all his endeavours.
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