The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-04-05
PATRICK HENRY'S
SPEECH In IT'S
Many Things He Said Then Are
Applicable to the Present.

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Johns church. The occasion was a
resolution introduced March %, 1915,
in the Virginia convention to put that
commonwealth into a state of defense
against Great Britain. The speech, in
part, Is as follows:
"Mr. President, it is natural for man
to indulge in the illusions of hope. We
are apt to shut our eyes against pain
full truth and listen to the Song of that
siren till she transforms US into beasts.
Is this the part of wise men engaged in
great aud arGuous struggle for liberty?
Are we disposed to be of the number of
those who having eyes see not and hay
ing ears hear not the things which so
nearly concern their temporal salvation?
For my part, whatever anguish of
spirit it may cost, am willing to know
the whole truth; to know the worst and
provide for it.
Il have but one lamp by which my
feet are guided, and that is the lamp Of
experience. l know of no way of
judging of the future but by the past,
l wish to know what there has been in
the conduct Of British ministry tor the
last ten years to justify those hopes
with which gentlemen have been pleas
ed to solace themselves and this house.
Is it that insidIous smile with which
our petition has been lately received?
Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare
to your feet. Suffer not Yourselves to
be BETRAYED with a kiss. Ask your
selves how this gracious reception of
our petition COMFORTS with those war
like preparations which cover our wat
ers and darken our land. Are fleets
and armies necessary to a work of love
and reconciliation?
Have we shown ourselves so un-
willing to be reconciied that force must
be called in to win back love? Let us
not deceive ourselves, sir. These are
the implements of war and subjugation
the last arguments to which kings
resort. | ask, gentlemen, sir, what
means this martial array, if its pur-
pose be not to force US to submission?
Can gentlemen assign any other possible
motive for 1t? Has Great Britain any
enemy in this quarter of the world to
call for all this accumulation of navies
and armies? No, sir, she has none.
They are meant for US; they can be
meant for no other. They are sent over
to bind and rivet upon US those chains
which the British ministry have been
so long forging. And what have we to
oppose them? Shall we try argument?
Sir, we have been trying that for the
last ten years. Have we anything new
to offer on the subject? Nothing.
1--WE have held the subject up in
every light of which it is capable, but
1t has been all in vain. Shall we re.
sort to entreaty and humble supplica-
ton? What terms shall we find which
have not been already exhaused? Let
US not, | beseech you, sir, deceive our
selves longer.
"Sir we have done everything that
could be done to avert the storm which
is now coming on. We have petitioned;
we have demonstrated; we have sup
plicated; we have Frustrated ourselves
before the throne. and have implored
its lnterp0sltion to arrest the tvran-
meal hands Of the ministry and parlia-
ment. Our petitions have been slight
ed; our remonstrances have produced
additional violence and insult; our sup
plicatlons have been disregarded and
we have been spurned with contempt
from the foot of the throne. In vain,
these things, may we indulge the fond
hope of peace and reconciliation? There
is no longer any room for hope? If we
wish to be free; if we mean to preserve
inviolate those inestimable privileges
for which we have been so long contend
ing; If we mean not basely to abandon
the noble struggle in which we have
been so long engaged and which we
have pledged ourselves never to
abandon until the glorious object of our
contest shall be obtained-we must
fight. lrepeat it. sir. we must fight
An appeal to arms and the God of Hosts
is all that is left US.
They tell US, sir. that we are weak
unable to cope with so formidable an
adversary. But when shall we be
stronger? Will it be next week, or the
next year? Will it be when we are
totally disarmed and when a British
guard shall be stationed in every house?
Shall we gather strength by irresolu-
ton and inaction? Shall we acquire the
means of effectual resistance by lying
supinely on our backs and hugging the
delusive phantom of hope until our
enemies shall have bound US, hand and
foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we
make proper use of those means which
the God of nature hath placed in our
power.
Three millions of people, armed in