But those three million people have expanded into forty-four million;
and the thirteen States to thirty-eight, besides ten territories and one
district. The country now, excepting the stretch from the west shore of
Lake Superior, and from the south-west point of Texas westward to the
ocean, has available for commercial purposes, a continuous water-front
of not less than fifteen thousand miles, equal to that of the whole of
Europe. It is five thousand miles from east to west, and four thousand
from north to south. It contains vast ranges of mountains, the longest
river in the world, and the most fertile plains. Its climate is so
varied and extensive that it produces almost everything that is grown
anywhere in the world—the fruits of the tropics as well as of the
latitudes north and south; and it will be the granary from which the
world must ultimately draw its bread. It has all the different forms of
mineral wealth—gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, besides coal, oil and
salt. No other country on the globe can begin to compare with it in the
variety of its products; it combines the utility of them all. It is as
if all others had contributed their choicest seeds, as they have their
peoples, to fill up the variety with which this should be blessed. In
whatever sense it may be regarded, it is the great country of the world.
No other can for a moment enter into comparison with it save in some
single sense—while this combines the greatnesses of them all. Blessed
with such a country—with a land such as God promised to His chosen
people—“a land flowing with milk and honey,” how ought the people to
have returned their gratitude to Him Who gave it? Or rather, how have
they done so?
Having already entered upon a second century, there can be no more
appropriate a time in which to see what use there has been made of the
“ten talents” with which the Great Husbandman has entrusted us; to see
how we have shown our love for Him by that which we have given to our
brethren; to see whether from His bounteous gifts to all, a part has
stolen the inheritance from others, and when His servants have been sent
whether they have been beaten away empty; whether some, having an
abundance, have “shut up their bowels of compassion” though seeing their
brothers had need; whether they have “fought the good fight,” whether
they have “kept the faith” and whether they are entitled to the crown
which St. Paul bespoke for them that love God.