The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-06-28
A FAMOUS DEFENSE
OF THE DECLARATION

John Adams speech before the cont.
Mental congress that adopted tho dec
laration, NJ reproduced by Daniel Web
ster.
Sink or swim. live or die. survive
or perish. I give my hand and my heart
to this vote. II II true. indeed. that at
the beginning we aimed not nj inde-
pendence. But thers's n divinity which
shapes our ends. Tho injustice OF Eng
LAND. has driven as TO arms: and. blind
ed TO her own interest for our good.
she has ohstinately persisted until In
Dependence IN now within our grasp.
We have tsN 20 reach for q. and Il II
ours.
why. then. should ws defer the dec
iarations Ia any man 90 weak IN now
to hope for q reconciliation with Eng
land. which shall leave either safety
TO the country and It's liberties. or safe
~ to his own life and hts own honor.
Are not you. cir, whs sit In that chair
IN not he. our venerable colleague near
you. are you not both already the pro-
scribed and predestIned objects Of pun
ishment and OF v~ngeanceT Cut or
from all hope OF royal csemency. what
power OF England remains. but out
LAVISH
For myself. having twelve months
aCo. In this ptoea. moved you that
George Washington be appointed coin.
mnnder OF the forces. raised or 20 be
raised. for defense OF American liberty.
may my right hand forget her cunning.
and my tongue ciea,e to the roof OF my
mouth. IL j hesitate or waver In the
support i give him. The war. then.
must go on. We must fight Il through.
And IL the war must 70 on, why put
OF longer the declaration OF independ-
ence! That measure will strengthen
us. II will give us character abroad.
II we fail. u can be no worse for US.
But We shall not fail. The enuse will
raise up armies: the cause will create
nayics. The people. the people. IL We
are true tn them. viii carry US, and will
carry themselves, gloriously. through
this struggle. care not how fickle 9th.
er people have been found I know the
people OF these colonies. and know
that resistance to British aggression Il
deep and settled I'm their hearts and
cannot be cradicnted. Every colony. In
deed. mas expressed It's willingness 20
follow. II we but take the lead. Sir.
the declaration will inspire the people
with increased courage. Instead OF a
long and bloody war for restoration of
privileges. for redress OF grievnnces
for chartered immunities. held under .
British king. SGT before them the glor.
ious object OF entire Independence. and
II will breathe into them anew the
breath OF life.
Read this declaration at the head Of
the army: every sword wfil be drawn
from its scnbbard. and the solemn vow
uttered TO maintain Il or TO perish on
the bed OF honor. Publish II from the
pulpit: religion will approve II. and
the love OF religious liberty will cling
around u, resolved to stand with IL, or
fall with h. Send II TO the public halls.
proclaim Il there; let them hear ~. who
FIRST heard the roar OF the enemy's can.
non: let them see IL. who saw their
brothers and their sons fall on the field
OF Bunker Hill and In the streets OF
Lexington and Concord. and the very
walls will cry out In It's support.
Sir. know the uncertainty OF human
affairs. but see. zee clearly. through
this days business You and I. indeed.
may rue Il. We may live TO the time
when this declaration shall be made
good. We may dis: die. coionists: die
slaves: die. 10 may be. ignominously
and ON the scafroid. BE IL no. Be IL 30.
II Il be the pleasure OF heaven that
my country shail require the poor offer-
ing OF my life. the victim shall be ready
ut the appointed hour OF sacrifice. come
when that hour may. But while do
INV, feI Tie hhNt u CooHtAJs w ~ AS1@N
the hope OF q country, and that q free
country.
But whatever may be our fate. be
assured, be assured. that this declara-
ton win stand. IL may cost treasure.
and II may cost blood: but IL viii stand.
and Il will richly compensate for both.
Through the thick gloom OF the present
I see the brightness OF the future. AZ
the sun In heaven. We shall make this
a glorious. an immortal day. When We
are I'm our graves. our children VIII
honor Il. They will celebrate IL with
Thanksgiving. with festivities. with
boniireS. and Nominations. On Its an.
nual return they will shed tears,
copious. gushing tears. not OF subJec-
ton and slavery. not OF agony and dts
tress. but OF exultation, Of gratitude
and OF Joy.
Sir. before God. believe the hour l'
come. My judgment approves this
measure and my whole heart In In H.
All that have. and all that I am. and
MI that hope, an this life. am nov
ready here TO stake upon II: and !
leave of as ] began. that live or de-
survive or perish. I arm for the declara'
tsun. IL is my living sentiment, and by
the blessing OF God. II shall be my
dying sentiment: Independence now: