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AMERICA AND HER ALLIES (1917)

BY WASHINGTON GLADDEN °

O LAND of lands, my Fatherland,
The beautiful, the free,

All lands and shores to freedom dear,
Are ever dear to thee;

All sons of freedom hail thy name
And wait thy word of might,

While round the world the lists are joined
For liberty and light.

Hail sons of France, old comrades dear!
Hail Britons brave and true!

Hail Belgian martyrs ringed with flame!
Slavs fired with visions new!
Italian lovers mailed with light!

Dark brothers from Japan!

From East to West all lands are kin
Who live for God and man.

Here endeth war! Our bands are sworn!
Now dawns the better hour,

When lust of blood shall cease to rule,
When shall come with power;
peace
We front the fiend that rends our race,
And fills our homes with gloom;
We break his scepter, spurn his crown,
And nail him to his tomb!

Now hands all 'round, our troth we plight,
To rid the world of lies,

To fill all hearts with truth and trust,
And willing sacrifice;

NOTES

PATRICK HENRY'S SPEECH ON LIBERTY (Page 1)

Patrick Henry (1736-1799) is said to have been the greatest orator of American Revolutionary days. He had an impatient zeal for freedom and liberty. From 1765 to his death in 1799 he was a real leader in Virginia public affairs and in the nation. He was twice governor of Virginia, and Washington wanted him to become chief-justice of the Supreme Court, but he did not accept this offer. He was one of the most popular men in the country, renowned for eloquence, and hailed as the champion of constitutional liberty. He was a delegate to the convention that ratified for Virginia the Federal Constitution, and, though at first opposed to some of its provisions, took a part in shaping the Constitution he had opposed. Washington and Henry both died in the same year, 1799.

The English Parliament passed the Stamp Act, March, 1765. The object of this Act was to secure money in America from the colonists to help defray the expenses of a small standing army in America. This proposal seemed reasonable and necessary, for English troops were at that time defending the colonists against Indian uprisings. The colonists were asked to contribute only about one-third of the necessary money for the purpose, and every cent of the money to be raised in America was to be spent in America. Only nine days after he entered the Virginia Assembly, Henry, after waiting patiently for older members to speak, delivered an impassioned speech in which he moved a set of seven resolutions denouncing the Stamp Act. Some of the members of the Assembly characterized Henry's propositions as treasonable. They were passed, however.

Just about one decade later, March 23, 1775, Henry stoutly and resolutely defended the cause of liberty and freedom. It was on this occasion that he delivered the speech we are studying. The Second Revolutionary Convention of Virginia was considering the establishment of a militia for purposes of defense. This militia, in Henry's opinion, should take the place of mercenary troops hired by England and placed in the colonies. He therefore moved that such a militia be established. Again he found strong opposition to his plan, for there were pacifists in the Convention who feared such revolutionary measures. Henry could no longer restrain himself. arose and delivered this Liberty Speech, virtually calling Virginia to arms against England. His resolutions were adopted, and a committee was appointed to put the resolutions into effect. Among others, the committee included George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

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How grave Henry's speech must have seemed to many may be judged by Benjamin Franklin's statement to Lord Chatham in 1774: "I have never heard from any person drunk or sober the least expression of a wish for separation." Washington also said, even so late as when he went to take command of the colonial army, that the thought of independence was abhorrent to him. John Adams said that in 1775 he was avoided in the streets of Philadelphia "like a man infected with leprosy" for his leanings toward "independency."

In this speech the spirit of the crusader and prophet is easily discernible.

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE (Page 5)

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) wrote this document "without reference to book or pamphlet," as he himself said. His draft of it was changed somewhat by other members of the Committee on Independence and by the Congress.

Jefferson was born in Virginia and was of Welsh descent. He was not rich, though he inherited an estate from his father. He made shrewd purchases, and by the time he