Lafayette to Washington: Shall I begin by sayingsome things you know, but may have forgotten? Thisworldyou have cut from the wilderness, is a new world,brighterwith sun in summer, colder with winter coldthan the world I knew. The air's strange-sharp, thevoicerings here with a hard ring. I find no manbut looks you in the eye and says his thoughtin your teeth, and means it. This was not known beforeon this star we inhabit. Europe has thirty kingsand a hundred million slaves. But here in this landeach man is a king and walks like a king, each womanbears herself regally, like a queen. You will findthis is not easy to throw away. The airof this coast has fired your blood and while threeamong you,no more than three, hold hard against the old masters,the kingdoms lessen and dwindle. They've felt yourbreathand feared it, in the old world. Lose! Now the godsin heaven hear me, you cannot lose! Bow downand humble yourselves if you can! It's not in you tobow nor to speak humbly. It's a trick you've never learnedand cannot learn in this air! As for these thronesthat men have bowed to, I've come from them latelyand seen them,how they're eaten down with old vices and slimed withworms'til they crumble into moats! Lower your muzzles,droop your flags! Even so the kingdoms falterand go down of themselves!

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