My distinguished friend who has preceded me has looked at this question from a lofty point of view—the point of view of a statesman—the point of view of one who has been able to survey this and the other questions which naturally connect themselves with it over this entire nation from the highest seat which any loyal son of this Republic recognizes—the Chief Magistracy of the United States. May I be permitted to survey it from a much humbler elevation—from that of a simple instructor of young men, whose duty for years has been to show to young men, and, indeed, I am happy now to say, young women also—to show to them the indications in human history of the great hand of God leading humanity on through all that blooms and decays, through all that struggles and suffers, through all that falters or stands fast, to the great goal which Divine Providence has appointed. And in that view and from that point I do not hesitate to reiterate the assertion that in all our history there is no greater proof of a Divine intelligence which takes an interest in the affairs of this world than in that Heaven-inspired choice of the path of education rather than the path of confiscation. You will remember, doubtless, fellow citizens, that prophecy of Thomas Jefferson—the greatest political genius whom our country has yet seen—that prophecy which used to ring in the hearts of some of us before the civil war, even into the watches of the night—that famous prophecy which seems to have come from Divine inspiration, beginning with those terrible words: “I tremble when I remember that God is just.” Had Thomas Jefferson foreseen the fulfillment of his prophecy he would have been blasted with horror at the sight of the wrath of the Almighty poured forth over this land, North and South, for, as has so well been observed, whatever sin there was, rested at the doors of the North as at the doors of the South. But had that great political genius looked over and beyond this out-pouring of God’s wrath, he would have seen an out-pouring of mercy which would have led him to kneel humbly in adoration at the blessings lavished upon the future nation. He would have seen the nation welded together into one homogeneous whole as never before. He would have seen prosperity revived as it had never been dreamed of by the most sanguine. He would have seen an enlightenment and civilization taking their roots, which he, with all his optimism, never dared dream of.