Denver labor bulletin., 1918-08-10
GIVE ME LIBERTY
GIVE ME DEATH"
By PATRICK HENRY.

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Mr.. President:
No man thinks more highly than
do of the patriotism as well as abili-
ties, of the very worthy gentlemen
who have just addressed the House.
But different men often see the same
subject in different lights; and, there
fore, / hope it will not be thought
disrespectful to those gentlemen, if,
entertaining as / do opinions of
character very opposite to theirs,
shall speak forth my sentiments freely
and without reserve. This is no time
for ceremony. The question before
the House is one of awful moment
to this country. For my part l con-
slider it as nothing less than ques-
proportion to the magnitude of the
subject ought to be the freedom of the
debate. 1t is only in this way that
We can hope to arrive at truth, and
fulfill the great responsibility which
we hold to God and our country.
Should l keep back my opinions at
such time, thru fear of giving Of
fense, / should consider myself as
guilty of treason toward my country,
and of an act of disloyalty toward the
Majesty of heaven, which / revere
| ABOVE All eartnly kings.
Mr.. President, it is natural to man
to indulge in the illusions of hope.
We are apt to shut our eyes against
painful truth, and listen to the song
of that siren, till she transforms us
into beasts. Is this the part of wise
men, engaged in a great and arduous
struggle for liberty? Are we dis
posed to be of the number of those,
who, having eyes, see not, and having
ears, hear not, the things which so
nearly concern their temporal saliva
ton? For my part, whatever anguish
of spirit it may cost, am willing to
know the whole truth; to know the
worst, and to provide for it.
/ 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.
And judging by the past, l wish to
know what there has been in the con-
duct of the British ministry for the
last ten years to justify those hopes
with which gentlemen have been
pleased to solace themselves and the
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 kiss. Ask yourselves how this
gracious reception of our petition
comports with those warlike prepara-
tions which cover our waters and
darken our land. Are fleets and ar
mics necessary to work of love and
reconciliation? Have we shown our
selves so unwilling to be reconciled,
that force must be called in to win
back our love? Let US not deceive
ourselves, sir. These are the imple-
ments of war and subjugation; the last
arguments to which kings resort.
ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this
martial array, if its purpose be not
to force us to submission? Can gen.
tlemen assign any other possible mo-
tive for it? 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 min
istry have been so long forging. And
what have We to oppose to them?
Shall we try argument? Sir, we have
been trying that for the last ten
years. Have we anything new to offer
upon the subject? Nothing. We
have held the subject up in every
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has been all in vain. Shall we resort
to entreaty and humble supplication
What terms shall we find. which hate
not been already exhausted? 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 remon-
strated; we have supplicated; we have
Frustrated ourselves before the throne,
and have implored its interposition
to arrest the tyrannical hands of the
ministry and parliament. Our peti-
tions have been slighted; our remon-
| strances have produced additional vio-
lence and insult; our supplications
have been disregarded; and we have
been spurned, with contempt, from
the foot of the throne! In vain, after
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 contending-if we mean not
basely to abandon the noble struggle
in which we have been so long en-
gagged, and which we have pledged
ourselves never to abandon until the
glorious object of our contest shall be
sir, we must fight! An appeal to
arms and to 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
strongerf viii it be the next week,
| or the next wear? Will il he when