Paul Allen
Excerpt from the Commencement Address of Rhode-Island, 1797
This present is an age of wonders, and an arena of revolutions. The most experienced politician, who has grown grey in the study of mankind, will find in the course of an hour all his expectations destroyed, and predictions overturned. Let us then collect a fortitude of mind equal to the magnitude of the occasion, meet our misfortunes like men, and leave the rest to the disposal of Providence. The force of habit, and strength of education, may enable us to resist this dangerous charm of novelty, which has already produced pictures of horror sufficient to curdle the blood in our veins.
Patriotism, that pride and boast of antiquity, has been vilified and disgraced as inconsistent with that liberal affection which embraces the whole family of man. But self love is one of the strongest principles of action. Proud of these sentiments, we cherish with filial affection, with reverence, the venerable image of our country’s honor. It is not the uncandid sneer of party malevolence, nor the viperous tongue of slander itself, that can damp the energies of a real American. He feels, but he bears his misfortunes like a man.
Americans! while you justly resent the many injuries which you have received from the legislators of France, remember your long and glorious struggle for independence. Great Britain, who now courts your alliance once attempted to destroy your very existence as a nation. America, young in action and unversed in the hoary vices of Europe, has suffered much from believing the world is as generous, and noble, and disinterested as herself. Experience, fatal experience, has yet to teach us many lessons. But whoever reads the address of the President of the United States to the federal Legislature will learn that we meet our misfortunes with the reluctant spirit of a man, not the calm stupidity of an ox. It is a fact too notorious to be denied, and it is with a mixture of pain and astonishment that I speak it, that frivolous debates—tardy and timorous resolutions, have too much marked the character of our government. Europe beholds our situation, and rejoices. This vast continent may be divided into petty republics, destitute of force and energy, dangerous only to themselves, and harmless to their common enemies. But I will drive from my breast such melancholy anticipations—I will indulge the hope that there is spirit, and valor, and fortitude in our citizens, sufficient to resist this greatest of evils. Fathers! Legislators of your country! Reflect for a moment on the perilous situation of America. Is this the time for idle and unimportant debate when the world is at its crisis? Soar above the vulgar prejudices of the moment—remain firm to your posts. Impartial posterity will do justice to your actions.
Methinks I hear the voice of our forefathers from their tombs exclaim, unite, my children, and you may yet be a happy people. Divide, and your glory, honor, and national existence are extinguished forever.
Fate wrote it with an iron pen,
And the loud thunder said Amen.
Yet if God in his wrath has ordained that this country shall fall—if discord like a Colossus must stride over this continent—if all the pleasures of social life must be destroyed—if liberty, that first of Heaven’s blessings, must degenerate into the curse of unrestrained licentiousness; let us unite and rally round the government to a man. Let us march to the fortress of faction, and expire at the mouth of the cannon. Or if driven to the walls of the sanctuary, let us embrace the pillars of the Constitution, and only in its ruins fall. Let this freeborn American hand first dig my grave in liberty and honor; and though I found but one more thus resolved, that honest man and I would die together.
FINIS
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