futility of such an expectation. Military glory ever renders its possessor arrogant and intolerant, and others jealous and vindictive. Powerful martial nations are those which enjoy the least peace ; assailing others, if not assailed themselves.
Let us listen to the peans of triumph as chanted on the floor of the United States Senate by General Cass: " Our flao' has become a victorious standard, borne bv marchincr columns over the hills and valleys, and through the cities and towns and fields of a powerful (!) nation, in a career of success of which few examples can he found in ancient or modern warfare.''^ After giving the dates of twenty- eight victories, he exclaims, " If we recorded our hifetory upon stone, as was done in the primitive ages of the world, we should engrave this series of glorious deeds upon tables of marble. But we shall do better ; we shall engrave it upon our hearts, and we shall commit it to the custody of the press, whose monuments, frail and feeble as they appear, are more enduring than brass or marble, than statues or pyramids, or the proudest monuments erected by human hands. Let modern philanthropists talk as they please, the instincts of nature are truer than the doctrines they preach. MiHtary renown is one of the great elements of national strength, as it is one of the proudest sources of gratification to every man who loves his coiintiy, and desires to see her occupy a distinguished position among the nations of the earth,"'"
It seems unfortunate for the honor and glory of our country that our mihtary operations are conducted on a Lilliputian scale, and our military renown is so very cheaply acquired. The trophies gained in our Mexican war, even if engraven on marble, would look exceedingly diminutive compared to some, which, however the General may sup- pose to the contrary, are really recorded in the history of modern warfare. Had it been the General's good fortune to belong to " the Grand Army," his patriotic heart would have swelled with still prouder gratification, while listening at Austerlitz, to the glowing applause of his Emperor :