Story Hour Readings: Seventh Year Part 47

In March, 1775, a month before Lexington, Patrick Henry electrified the Virginia convention with the speech that here follows. A resolution was before the convention "that the colony be immediately put in a state of defence." Speaking to that resolution, Henry thrilled the delegates with his review of British mistreatment and his climax of "give me liberty or give me death."

Mr. President, it is natural for man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and to listen to the song of the siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men engaged in the great and arduous struggle for 5 liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes see not, and having ears hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?

For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst and to 10 provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the 15 British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our pet.i.tion has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves 20 to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our pet.i.tion comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? 5

Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation, the last argument to which kings resort. I ask, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen a.s.sign any other possible motive for it? Has 10 Great Britain any enemy in this quarter of the world to call for all this acc.u.mulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us. They can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been 15 so long forging.

And what have we to oppose them? Shall we try argument?

Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years.

Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing.

We have held the subject up in every light of which it is 20 capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and supplication? What terms shall we find that have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves longer. Sir, we have done everything that could have been done to avert the storm 25 that is now coming on. We have pet.i.tioned, we have remonstrated, we have supplicated, we have prostrated ourselves before the throne and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. 30

Our pet.i.tions have been slighted, our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult, our supplications have been disregarded, and we have been spurned with contempt from the foot of the throne. In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free, if we mean to preserve inviolate these 5 inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending, if we mean not basely to abandon the n.o.ble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must 10 fight! I repeat, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the G.o.d of hosts is all that is left us.

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week or the next year? 15 Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom, hope, 20 until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot?

Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the G.o.d of Nature hath placed in our power.

Three millions of people armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, 25 are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone.

There is a just G.o.d who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to 30 the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged.

Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston!

The war is inevitable, and let it come! I repeat, sir, let it come! 5

It is vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry Peace, peace! But there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the North will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here 10 idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty G.o.d! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! 15

1. The following outline sets forth the major topics of the speech. Find the paragraphs each includes. What did Henry say on each point?

I. Introduction 1. The speaker is willing to face facts II. Body 1. The past acts of the British ministry are not favorable to present hope 2. The present a.s.sembly of British armies and navies means subjugation for the colonists 3. The colonists cannot meet this force with pet.i.tions, for a. Pet.i.tions have been tried and are useless 4. The colonists can meet the British only with force of arms, for a. It is the only means left, and b. The colonists have the strength to fight III. Conclusion 1. Therefore, let us make ready for battle.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN TO MRS. BIXBY

Executive Mansion, Was.h.i.+ngton.

November 21, 1864.

Mrs. Bixby, Boston, Ma.s.sachusetts.

Dear Madam: I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Ma.s.sachusetts 5 that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming.

But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the 10 consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our heavenly Father may a.s.suage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a 15 sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours very sincerely and respectfully, Abraham Lincoln.

1. Undoubtedly the most difficult kind of letter to write is the letter of sympathy, expressing sorrow for loss by death. Why? Lincoln's little letter to Mrs. Bixby has long been considered a cla.s.sic of its kind. It is sincere, sympathetic, and helpful.

What makes it so?

2. How did Lincoln come to write this letter? What does the fact that he wrote it show about the man?

What was his object in writing it? Do you think he succeeded? What consolation did he offer the mother?

THE FLOWER OF LIBERTY

BY OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES

What flower is this that greets the morn, Its hues from heaven so freshly born?

With burning star and naming band It kindles all the sunset land: Oh, tell us what its name may be,-- 5 Is this the Flower of Liberty?

It is the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty!

In savage nature's far abode Its tender seed our fathers sowed; 10 The storm winds rocked its swelling bud, Its opening leaves were streaked with blood, Till lo! earth's tyrants shook to see The full-blown Flower of Liberty!

Then hail the banner of the free, 15 The starry Flower of Liberty!

Behold its streaming rays unite One mingling flood of braided light,-- The red that fires the Southern rose, With spotless white from Northern snows, 20 And, spangled o'er its azure, see The sister stars of Liberty!

Then hail the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty!

The blades of heroes fence it round, Where'er it springs in holy ground; From tower and dome its glories spread; It waves where lonely sentries tread; It makes the land as ocean free, 5 And plants an empire on the sea!

Then hail the banner of the free, The starry Flower of Liberty.

Thy sacred leaves, fair Freedom's flower, Shall ever float on dome and tower, 10 To all their heavenly colors true, In blackening frost or crimson dew,-- And G.o.d love us as we love thee, Thrice-holy Flower of Liberty!

Then hail the banner of the free, 15 The starry Flower of Liberty.

1. What is "The Flower of Liberty?" Does Holmes gain anything by calling it a flower? Subst.i.tute its real name and read the poem through thus, to test your answer.

2. Interpret the following pa.s.sages: "hues from heaven"; "burning star"; "flaming band"; lines 9-14, page 348; lines 19-20, page 348; "blades of heroes"; "empire on the sea"; "thrice-holy."

3. What other poems on the flag have you read?

Which do you like best? How does this one compare in quality with the others?

4. Bring to cla.s.s another poem by Holmes and read an interesting extract from it.

TRUE PATRIOTISM

BY BENJAMIN HARRISON

Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901) was the twenty-third President of the United States; the grandson of President William Henry Harrison; and the great-grandson of Benjamin Harrison, Sr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was well qualified to speak on the subject of real patriotism as against mere loyalty to political party.

Let us exalt patriotism and moderate our party contentions.

Let those who would die for the flag on the field of battle give a better proof of their patriotism and a higher glory to their country by promoting fraternity and justice. A party success that is achieved by unfair methods 5 or by practices that partake of revolution is hurtful and evanescent, even from a party standpoint. We should hold our different opinions in mutual respect; and, having submitted them to the arbitrament of the ballot, should accept an adverse judgment with the same respect that we 10 would have demanded of our opponents if the decision had been more in our favor.