The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-05

tilities will soon commence, and des-
perate and bloody touch it will be-
But said Colonel Samuel Overton, do
you think, MIR. Henry, that an infant
nation as we are, without discipline,
arms, ammunition, ships of war; or
money to procure them, do you think ii
possible, thus circumstanced, to oppose
successfully the fleets and armies OF
Great Britain?' I will be candid with
you,' replied Mr.. Henry. L doubt
whether we shall be able, alone, to cope
with so powerful a nation. But con-
tinued he (rising from his chair, with
great animation), where is France?
Where is Spain? Where is Holland?-
the natural enemies of Great Britain.
Where will they be all this while? Do
you suppose they will stand by idle
and Indifferent spectators to the con-
test? Will Louis XVI be asleep all
this time? Believe me, no, When Lou-
is XVI shall be satisfied by our serious
opposition. and our Declaration of In
dependence. that all prospect of a re-
cancellation is gone. then, and not I'M
I'll then, will he furnish US with arms,
ammunition, and clothing; and not with
these only, but he will send his fleets
and armies to fight our battles for us:
he will form with us treaty offen-
sive and defensive, against our unnat-
ural mother. Spain and Holland will
join the confederation. Our indepen-
dence will be established and we shall
take our stand among the nations Of
the earth" Here he ceased: and Colonel
John Overton says, he shall never for
get the voice and prophetic manner
with which these predictions were ut
tered, and which have been since so
literally verified. Colonel Overton says,
at the word independence, the company
appeared to be startled; for they had
never heard anything of the kind be-
fore even suggested"
1 think this passage alone, when the
roster of American prophets shall be
made up, will place this first man of
our Revolutionary period high on the
list of such prophets, and we shall yet
have occasion to be as proud of our
American prophets as the Jews are of
their prophets. OF other manifestations
OF inspiration in the men who guided
the councils of our nation i'm this Rev.
dictionary period, may not here speak
at length. 1t is matter of pride, how
ever. that their wisdom was recognized
by friends over the sea. OF the first
continental congress, the Earl of Chat
ham, in the British house of lords.
said:
Il must declare and avow, that in
land it has been my favorite study
have read Thueydides, and have studied
and admired the master states of the
WORLD. that for solidity of reasoning
force of sagacity and wisdom of conclu-
sion, under such a complication of cir
cumstances. no nation or body of men
can stand in preference to the general
congress of Philadelphia"
Whence obtained these men the wis
dom that thus challenged the admira- |
ton OF the first statesman of Great
Britain, and of his age. a man of gil
gantic intellectual powers and If incor-
ruptible integrity, and who devoted the |
great powers of his mind to the serv-
Ice OF his country? Could the wilder |
ness impart much knowledge of princi- |
Piles of government and craftsmanship |
as was manifested in the councils of |
those American planters. manufacturers |
and trades people? What books were |
extant from which they could learn |
it? Was it the genius of the land they |
inhabited that taught them statecraft? |
Was it the spirit of freedom that brood
ed over the country, over lake and |
stream and forest that sought self-ex-
preston through them? Did the wild |
waves of the Atlantic. as they broke |
upon the single of New England |
rugged coast, hymn civic wisdom into |
their souls? Let poets and romancers |
attribute it to what source they will. |
to me IL was the inspiration of God |
which touched their spirits and gave |
them understanding.
And not only was that inspiration |
wisdom to the American councils, but 1t |
inspired courage in the presence of de-
feat and patience that taught their ar
mics to wait for their victory. 1t gave
hope and calm to the turbulent spirit of |
and faith and confidence
to his companions in arms. 1t kept
alive the fires of patriotism in the
breast of the common soldier and quiet
ed the fears of the loved ones left to
watch over the homes during the alb
sence of husbands and fathers and sons.
II affected all the departments of the
great struggle until "Yorktown's sun
-ose on nations banner spread. a ma
ions freedom won.' And the nation
IF the United States began that career