On the record
But while the present is bright with promise and the future full of demand and inducement for the exercise of active intelligence, the past can never be without useful lessons of admonition and instruction.
Source
gutenberg.orgEditor's note · Context
Pierce reflects on the lessons of the past while recognizing the promise of the present and future.
Share
More from Franklin Pierce
If it were adopted as an international rule, the commerce of a nation having comparatively a small naval force would be very much at the mercy of its enemy in case of war with a power of decided naval superiority.
Thus will the federal system, whatever expansion time and progress may give it, continue more and more deeply rooted in the love and confidence of the people.
There is no condemnation which the voice of freedom will not pronounce upon us should we prove faithless to this great trust.
In war between that power and the United States, without resort on our part to our mercantile marine the means of our enemy to inflict injury upon our commerce would be tenfold greater than ours to retaliate.
Other voices in this conversation
