While I seem to love America, and wish to see America prosperous, I do not seem able to bring myself to love America, to desire American prosperity, at the expense of some other nation or even of all other nations. America to me includes humanity and is the universal. I stand for solidarity—not only of what are called the white or European peoples, but of the whole earth—and other earths if there are.

We want nothing small, nothing unfriendly or crabbed here, but rather to become the friend and well-wisher of all, as we derive our sources from all and are in continual communication with all—these modern, seething multitudes around us, of which we are inseparable parts, millions of equals, with their lives, their passions, their future.

We thought our Union grand, and our Constitution grand,
I do not say they are not grand and good, for they are,
I am this day just as much in love with them as you—
But I am eternally in love with you, and with all my fellows upon the earth.

Can any sound man believe in a patriotism that means America alone? The only theory worthy our modern times for great literature, politics, and sociology, must combine all the bulk people of all lands, the women not forgotten; bring in other people, and never lose sight of them and indeed of entire humanity. The United States may only become the greatest and the most continuous by understanding well their harmonious relations with entire humanity.

We of the New World are perhaps not so new as we are apt to think,
The main points of all ages and nations are points of resemblance, and, even while granting evolution, are substantially the same,
Nations, the smallest the same and the largest the same.
We all, of all ages, share the common human attributes,
The same old laws of history, the same old laws over and under humanity,
Born out of the insight and inspiration of the same old humanity, the same old heart and brain,
The same old countenance yearningly, pensively looking forth.
They have not been changed an iota for us,
Though we often act as if we thought so.

You Russians and we Americans! Our countries so distant, so unlike at first glance, and yet in certain features, and vastest ones, so resembling each other—both have the fervent element of manly friendship throughout the whole people. (The Russian is a marvelous character—I watch it very closely, wonderingly—regard it as bread in the making—dough not yet in its final shape—the dish, however, proceeding!)

America is not all in all—the sum total; she is only to contribute her contribution to the big scheme. Let it be something worthwhile, something exceptional, ennobling. I believe in the higher patriotism. Not, my country whether or no, God bless it and damn the rest!—but my country to lead the procession, not in conquest, but in inspiration.

America is really the great test or trial case for all the problems and promises and speculations of humanity, and of the past and present.The United States must establish a democratic governmental policy founded upon the universal principles of all government. Liberty, with law by her side, will one day be paramount—will at any rate be the central idea. This is the American programme, not for classes, but for universal man.

What the mother, our continent, in reference to humanity, finally means is individuality strong and superb, for broadest average use. It is to be a large, tolerant, and all-inclusive individuality. America means above all toleration, catholicity, welcome, freedom—a concern for Europe, for Asia, for Africa, along with its concern for America.

America now should stand for the world, should bear witness not only to her own success, but human solidarity, universal union, the largest possible circle of comradeship. The future of the world is one of open communication and solidarity of all races; and if that problem cannot be solved in America it cannot be solved anywhere. The final aim of the United States of America is the solidarity of the world.

There are a lot of us in whom there is developed a new camaraderie, fellowship, love—the farther truer idea of the human family, of international unity, of making one country of all countries. The trouble is that we do not hold the whip hand.
But America has its purpose, it must serve that purpose to the end. Our people will in the end read all these lessons right.

One song, America, before I go:
O America because you build for mankind I build for you!
I see that this world of the West, as part of all, fuses inseparably with the East, and with all,
Uniting closer and closer not only the American states, but all nations, and all humanity.

Along all history, down the slopes,
As a rivulet running, sinking now, and now again to the surface rising,
A ceaseless thought—
The earth to be spann’d, connected by network,
The oceans to be cross’d—the seas that unitest nations,
The distant brought near,
The lands to be welded together—Europe to Asia and Africa join’d, and they to the New World.

And thou born, America, for purpose vast,
For the scheme’s culmination, its thought and its reality,
To build for that which builds for mankind—
For these (not for thyself) thou hast arrived.
The hemispheres rounded and tied,
We stand self-pois’d in the middle, branching thence over the world.
The orb is enclosed, the ring is circled,
The rondure of the world at last accomplish’d,
Man’s long probation fill’d, the journey is done,
The box-lid is but perceptibly open’d—nevertheless the perfume pours copiously out of the whole box,
I see not America only, but other nations preparing, cast in a fresher and brawnier matrix,
And needed this day, live and arrogant, to lead the marches of the world.

I will trail the whole geography of the globe and salute courteously every city large and small,
Good will to you all, from me and America sent!
Toward you all, in America’s name,
I raise high the perpendicular hand, I make the signal—
Salut au monde! a salute to the world—
To remain after me in sight forever,
For all the haunts and homes of men.

And these things I see suddenly—
Other nations preparing, cast in a fresher and brawnier matrix,
And needed this day, live and arrogant, to lead the marches of the world,
Shadowy, vast shapes smile through the air and sky,
And, as if some miracle, anthems in new tongues I hear, one after another, saluting me.

NEXT: WAR AND PEACE

The texts in this anthology should NOT be cited as direct quotations from Whitman. If you want to quote from this site for something you are writing or posting, please read this first (click here).