SOVEREIGNTY. 17 



I turn now to modern times. I look iliere for na- 

 tions formed under our own eyes, or at least under per- 

 fect cognizance of their own consciousness. What ex- 

 ample shall I take ? Shall I go to Switzerland ? Shall 

 I question the commonwealth of the Lakes, the ])eople 

 of the glaciers, the sons of William Tell ? Shall I 

 tread again the dear paths of Belgium ? No ! let me 

 cross the ocean, and stand in presence of that gigantic 

 nation of which I have spoken. I am no courtier of the 

 United States of America : thanks to my priestly oflice, 

 I am no one's courtier. I am not even a blind admirer 

 of them ; and, if this were the proper place, I would 

 warn them that they arc slipping down the steep slope 

 of moral decay, and that they will infallibly come, as we 

 have come, to political and social decay. I would cull 

 them back to the better spirit of their early age, and to 

 the genuine patriotism of their founders. This I may 

 say. Gentlemen, I am a true son of Pius IX. ; and 

 Pius IX. has put honor on himself in sending his 

 homage and his gift of a block of stone to the national 

 monument to AVashington. Oh, how grand that nation 

 was 1 how grand it continues still ! jieople, thou art 

 like the lion's whelp that is gone up to seize the prey ! 

 Thy prey is the wealth of botli the hemispheres, 

 thy proud independence, thy vast and fertile continent. 

 Thou hast couched between the two oceans, in the 

 shadow of thy lofty mountains, on the banks of thy 

 rivers that are like seas ! Thou hast roared like the 

 lion ; and like the lioness thou art slumbering in thy 

 might. Who shall dare rouse thee up ? Quia suscllahil 

 cum .?* 



Well, then, wlio is it that holds the sovereignty in 

 this nation? Xonc but itself. The very day when it 



* Gcucsie, xlix. 9. 



