St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1919-09-06
Continued Next Wek.)
HENRY's SPARK or LIBERTY

& Ia ~ O1o ~ &# SohAA =
Richmond, Va, on March %, 1775,
a solemn body of men were assembled
as the Virginia Convention. They
sat as gathered torches in hand,
about an open powder magazine. One
spark might readily awake the ex-
plosion. But who would be reckless
enough to apply the spark?
For years the American colonies had
been groaning under oppression. Eng
lish statesmen were daily making life
harder and harder for the Americans.
The British Government that had
once guarded them with fatherly care
was now scourging them in a tyranni-
cal fashion. Either the colonists must
become little better than slaves, or
they must forcibly cast off the yoke
and be free men.
Already in Massachusetts, the farm
ers and townsfolk were secretly drill
ing and were collecting arms and
funds against the day of battle. At
the time Virginia, next to Massachu-
sets, was the most important colony.
The full seriousness of the situation
in the Southern State was apparent.
But. for a time no man in old st.
Johns Church dared rise to speak the
word that would awaked liberty. Hence
the nervous tension and hushed excite
ment that brooded over the delegates.
Suddenly from a seat near the chair
mans platform a man sprung to his
feet. A murmur ran through the au-
dience. Every eye was upon him.
This vas Patrick Henry, the fanatic
who ten years earlier had Mortified
the solemn Virginia Burgesses by
shouting:
Caesar had his Brutus; Charles /
his Cromwell and George III may pro-
fit by their example. If this be trea-
son make the most of it,
The a~ristocratic element Of today's
convention sneered at Henry. He was
the son of a Scotch immigrant. He
had failed twice as a country-store-
keeper. He had married a tavern
keepers daughter and had at one time
tended bar for his father-in-law. He
had in later life become a lawyer, and
his wild e~loquence had a way of de-
feating a wiser lawyer.
Henry was not prepossessing in APP
pearance, but when he began to speak
his hearers always had a way of for
getting his personality, and thinking
only of the mans wondrous voice and
the spell of his oratory. Briefly now
he spoke, and terrible to the point.
| Casting away the scabbard he flashed
the sword of revolt. He offered, in
terse, sharp phrases, a set of resolu-
lions to organize militia and to put
Virginia in a state of defense. At
once there was a howl of opposition.
One by one the loyalists and conser-
vatives Numbered invectives against
the daring plan. Then Patrick Henry
rose again to speak. In a few words,
yet wildly, he pictured England's op-
preston of American. He described
the Colcnists' long patience and their
vain efforts to gain justice. He told
how Massachusetts was rushing to the
conflict, and how news of a clash with
the British at Boston might ever now
be on the way.
rs life SO DEAR" he cried, lis peace
so sweet as to be purchased at the
price of chains and slavery? Forbid
it, Almighty God! | know not what
course others may takee but as for me,
give me Liberty or give me Death"
The spark was struck. The blaze
was alight which should burn on
through the ages in the holy flames
of Freedom.