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Essays and addresses" There are to-day many tens of thousands of Americans who conquered at Platts- burgh, whose ancestors were there defeated. Were that battle but the victory of an American over a British force, much as I love the American nation, my altruism would not rise, could not be expected to rise, to the height of heartily rejoicing with them on this anni- versary. Your flag I esteem and honour, mine own I love and revere your glory I rejoice in, for we be brethren ; the glory of Britain is my very own, a herit- age to which I was born, no jot or tittle of which will I ever willingly give up. Nothing which has been said of the bravery of the forces on either side, of the skill and determination of Macdonough, the dogged valour of the ill-fated Downie, but I cordially endorse. I can even look with equan- imity upon the retreat of Prevost and set it over against the surrender of Hull the year before in either case the weaker man succumbed. prev next |