The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-06-18


clearly stated that no one viii dispute
it unless he has some eason for dis
putting it, sometimes a pecuniary rea-
o sometimes a reason founded up
on prejudice, or some other selfish
interest, and when find a man
disputing a sef-evident truth there
is no use arguing with him; it is a
waste of time. Argue with some one
who is pen for conviction. For in
stance, if you say to a man, TT is
wrong to steal" a s~elf-evident truth,
and he says "I do not know about
that" it is no use to argue with him
search him, and you will probably
fi1d the reason i his pocket.
; Next 10 clearness of statement,
1 would put conciseness of statement
the saying of much in a few words.
Patrick Henry had all of these quail
ties. He Knew what he was talking
about, he understood THE fundamental
principles of the science of govern
ment; he understood human rights,
and he understood the human heart.
He not only knew what he was talking
about, burt he meant what he said
he spoke from his heart to the hearts
of those who listened. There were
learned and influential men in those
days who opposed him, but when he
made his impassioned appeal to the
sense of justice he was greater than
all of them. He could strip away the
verbiage that is sometimes used to
conceal ideas, he could present the
idea clearly, and he could present a
thought in a few words. No great
thought has ever been more strongly
presented, more clearly presented,
more concise1y presented when ne e
claimed: "Give me liberty or give me
DEATH" He might have spoken for
hours, but he could not have added
to the strength of the statement by
the use Of further words. He was a
upon lis ability to speak for himself
no orator a speak for himself and
be eloquent. He must have a larger
cause. If a man is to be eloquent he
must speak for mankind; only then
a he appeal to the hearts of men.
A man is of little Importance in this
world, except as he can advance a
principle, Or help his fellows. Patrick
Henry seized a great principle and
brought it into prominence. He spoke
not for himself, but for all the people,
of this country-he was the voice of
the people, he was the conscience of
the masses, and therefore when he
spoke for them he carried conviction.
He presented in a few words the great
est theme that we have to deal with
in matters of government. 1 will cad
you four propositions which he sent
forth in a few words-four PROPOSE
tions which mean more in matters OF
government than n other -four pro-
positions that I know of, except the
four stated in the Declaration of indie
pendence. Let me read you these pro
Positions:
First, Every attempt to rest such
power 0the power to levy taxes) in any
other person or persons whatsoever,
other than the general assembly afore
said, has a manifest tendency to de-
stroy British as well as American free
dom"
What is the principle embodied in
the statement. 1t is that liberty is
universal in it's application, and that
you can not strike it down in one
part of the world without striking it
a blow in every part of the world.
There was an American, a young MAJ
in the new country not acquain
ted with the classics; there he was
warning the people of England that
if they dared to strike down liberty
in our country they would strike it
down in their own country at the
same time. He was wiser than the
statesmen of England, because he IL n
stood human hearts. He knew that
n denied liberty to others ne
attacked the foundation upon which
his own liberty stood. 1t was an i'm
portant lesson, and England learned it
and she has not attempted to govern
OuIlST COIOlllCS VI ncI oWu IdSS 90 olS
mad attempted t o govern our colonies.
She learned something from Virgilia's
great orator, and she has no forgot
ten the lesson up to this time. Cana
da today is more free because of the
words of Patrick Henry spoke. Austria
liza is more free because of the fight
that Patrick Henry led. New Zealand
has more liberty because of the wis
dom of Patrick Henry taught.
Another thought that he expresses.
Let me read this resolution:
Resolved, That the taxation of the
people by themselves or by persons
by themselves to represent
them, who a only know what taxes
people are able to bea and the
easiest mode OF raising them, and
are equally affected by such taxes
is the distinguishing char
acteristic of British freedom and with
out which the ancient constitution can
exist"