Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1895-11-22
GARNErr, KANSAS, NOVEMBER 22, 1895

They rang through all the land, those lion
tones!-rang i'll every home, rang i'll every
heart, until the Liberty Bell took up the refrain
and rang it into history. eve must fight
and they fought Many a battle, many frozen
bivouac, many all hour of despair, many gal
liant man laid under the sod, many a woman
and child pitilcssy butchered but "give me
liberty or give ne DEATH is the sternest of gos-
pels, and to get the glory you must bear the
cross. Honor the Liberty Bell?
Certainly we should honor it, spill ink over
it, spout over ii, clap hands, wave handker-
chiefs and yell ill our throats crack.
What care we that the Liberty Bell is an
awkward guest i'll the tawdry pageant Of grip
ing spectators?
What care we that this relic OF the days of
our forefathers is a mute reproach, silent ac-
cuser, i'll whose venerable presence our guilty
heads should bow and our servile spirits shrink?
Dumb? Let it be dumb forever, and remind
us not of our sin and our shame.
Tied hand and foot to- British Shylock, how
could we listen TO the peals OF a LIBERTY Bell?
Every stroke that it rang would sound to our
craven souls like the oank OF culprl's chain.
Betrayed by bur servants into The ruinous
power of a soulles policy and soulless synd-
cate, what ears have We for the peals Of I,bcr-
ty Bells?
Every clang OF the iron tongue would clamor
Bonds Bonds! Bonds!
Pealng forth in I776, ii sent ringing down
a.. ar,
Fraternity': ii spoke to a consccrated people
the creed of Justice, of honor, of patriotism, of
happiness based on virtue and manhood
Grander music had not been heard since the
angel choir sang above Bethlehem. But i'll
1875, the traditions OF our fathers are remenl-
bered but to be rejected, their principles repu-
dated, their purposes defeated, their idols
broken, their government revolutionzed.
"Depart from Europe and from Europe's
tandards-moral, political and social"--sad
the heroes of the Colonies.
"Down with shams, with humbugs with
hypocisies, with expressions, with artificial dis
tinctions between man and man.
"Unseal the hidden book of Justice, and let
it become living letter. Shatter the throne
of the anointed scoundrel who opposes break
the gilded clique of hereditary arstocrats who
stand around the throne and divide with the
Lords anointed' the plumber of the people;
and let the wisest rule, and let each man pros
per according to his worth, reaping only where
he has sown.
"Give religion back to the hearts and the
lives of men-dvorcing her forever from the
corruptions of political craft, from partnership
in the tyrannies of state and from the num-
meries and quackeries of heather forms and
ceremonies" "
Such, oh my brothersl was the song OF the
Liberty Bell hundred years ago.
To-day, what would it be2
"T,ook at your statute -books-and be Pleased
if you can,
"Look at your rulers--and rejoice il you
please.
'Look at your social life and be content-if
you dare.
"I.ook at your religions state-and breathe
easily if you may.
"Look at your political condition-and if
your heart is made of rock, you will not feel a
pang.
p ''look at your industrial life-step down
from the marble halls of the monarchs of class
rule, and enter thou into the novels of those
whose never-ending toll feeds you, clothes you,