The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-03-18

which meant dissent he moved an
amendment to the Jamaica resolutions
He read without gesture, in pronun-
citation as plain as homespun. His voice
moved evenly, almost carelessly, over
the periods.
But as he progressed the assembly
awoke with shock, and Anne saw a
certain ripple almost of alarm surge
over it Henry had spoken the phrase,
''our inestimable rights and liberties"
At that moment the speaker raised
his voice, and the last words came
challenge like, the snap of whip I'VE
do resolve, therefore, that this colony
be put In state of defense and that
there be committee to prepare plan
for embodying, arming and disciplin-
ing such number of men as may be
sufficient for that purpose"
Anne looked at Henry In the black
clothes and tie wig which set Off his
face and drew breath. The humility,
the diff1dence, the modesU Of address
were gone, and in their place was stern
ness Even his voice had grown harsh,
as though in menace, and on the con-
vention. uncertain and waver1ng, those
lovers Of the "halcyon days" the men
ace fell. 1t was the plunge from hest
tation to resolve, from expostulation to
powder. The fire had TALENT
Henry knew his men. All these years
he had been learning them, drawing
them out questioning. story telling,
watching effects, experimenting in their
emotions.
His eye held every man within those
walls. He turned 1t upon Richard Hen
ry Lee, and he, his polished oratory for
got, hurled blunt second at the chair.
Mr.. Pendleton, Colonel Harrison,
limping from the govt and Colonel
Richard Bland got upon their feet with
arched frowns, barking that such ac-
ton was premature" and at the word
Anne saw pale scorn burn Henry's
face. These, who had so lately sat in
the Continental congress, prated Of
"dignifed patience 'fihal respect and
"the relenting of the SOW
ereign,~ 1.-The nakedness Of the col
onies"
Anne had afterward no certain recol-
lection Of how Henry began in answer.
All impression was swallowed up in
that thrill which held every nearer. 1t
has been said that he spoke as Homer
wrote.
"Shall we shut our eyes-we wise
men struggling for liherty-and listen
to the song Of the siren till she trans
forms us to beastsY he cried ''Shall
we, having eyes, see not, and, having
ears, hear not the tidings of our tenn
poral salvation? For my part will
know the worst, and / will provide for
1t. cannot judge the future but by
the past and by the past how shall
you solace yourselves? What is there
In the coaduct OF the British ministries
Of the past ten years to justify hopper
AS he went on passion crept over his
face like the wind that precedes
storm; his lean neck was scarlet and
corded with white lines, and his eyes
glared hollowiy.
do you regard the insidious smiles
with which our petitions are received? ?
Be not betrayed with kissl'
Sitting in a culver of feeling; with
fingers clasping the gallery ledge, Anne
felt the shaken pulses Of the audience.
Under the intrepid metaphor she saw
the messenger of the colonial assembly
before the kings attorney gen.
eraI enreating that Virginia had souls
to be saved as well as England, and
the british answer: Cd your soulsl
Make tobacco" She saw the colonies
supplicating on their knees, spurned,
condemned, spit upon She saw the
chains forging, navies building, armies
She saw British ministers,
like harpies, with cold eyes upon the
green Of the Americas.
Henry's voice had risen louder, more
and his colorless features and |
eyes OF fire had become terrible to look |
upon He sat upon the whirlwind. |
The very walls seemed to rock with vi
brations.
There is no longer any room for
hope. If we wish to be free, If we
mean to preserve inviolate those privi-
leges for which we have been so long
If we mean not baseiy to |
abandon the struggle we have vowed |
never to abandon until its object be OBJ
tained, then we must fight We must |
hghtl An appeal to arms, 10 the God
Of Hosts, Is all that is left us"
Anne dragged her eyes from Henry's.
Amid the sea there was one face that
had not moved line. 1t was Colonel
He sat stonelike, as i'm
movable as a bishop at his prayers, his
hands stiil upon his knees. He was as
soldier should be-cool of head and
saving passion for the hand. And as
soldier be was slow to disallegiance.
But cold as he seemed when Henry
bent the wills Of that assembly and
whipped the conservatives TO the wall
here was glitter in his eye that leap
"a TO fame behind the quiet mask.
They tell US that we are weak
When shall we be strongerf WIN II
De next week. or next YEAR, Whom rvo