This coherent pattern is England's attitude towards ourselves.

It is to be perceived, faintly yet distinctly, in 1783, and it grows clearer and ever more clear until in 1898, in the game of jackstraws played when we declared war upon Spain, the pattern is so clear that it could not be mistaken by any one who was not willfully blinded by an anti-English complex.

This pattern represents a preference on England's part for ourselves to other nations.

I do not ask you to think England's reason for this preference is that she has loved us so much; that she has loved others so much less--there is her reason.

She has loved herself better than anybody.