The publication of the _Nation_ was really an epoch which marked a wonderful change, and from that day forth self-reliance and self-respect began to take the place of grateful but stultified obedience and blind trust.
The change became more marked as the publication proceeded.

In speech, article, song and essay, the spell of Davis's extraordinary genius and embracing love was felt.

Historic memories, forgotten stories, fragments of tradition, the cromlech on the mountain and the fossil in the bog supplied him substance and spirit wherewith to mould and animate nationality.

Native art, valour, virtue and glory seemed to grow under his pen.

All that had a tendency to elevate and ennoble, he rescued from the past to infuse into the future.