Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death
梦见蚕宝宝Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775.
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addresd the Hou. But different men often e the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to tho gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I sha
ll speak 朱旗forth my ntiments freely and without rerve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the Hou is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It 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 I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offen武松的人物形象, I should consider mylf as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wi men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we dispod to be of the number of tho who, having eyes, e not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation怎样撒娇? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify tho hopes with which gentlemen have been plead to solace themlves and the Hou. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a 祛痘小方法snare to your feet. Suffer not yourlves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourlves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with tho warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourlves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourlves, sir. The are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpo be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible 续集歌词motive 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 f
考研199or no other. They are nt over to bind and rivet upon us tho chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppo 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 light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble南疆 supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beech you, sir, deceive ourlves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourlves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after the 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 prerve inviolate tho inestimable privileges
for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not baly to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourlves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!
