PREFACE THROUGHOUT our history the greatest waves of patriotism have been awakened and inspired by the speeches of those who, thrilled with the spirit of a great cause, have sounded a note which roused the country to action. It was President Wilson's message to Congress in April, 1917, that sounded the call that roused America to service, sacrifice and battle, just as Patrick Henry's speech in 1775 roused the Virginians. This book gives some of the great speeches which have either inspired our fore-fathers or have inspired us to use the vast resources of our country for the causes of liberty, freedom, justice or World Democracy. It gives these speeches in the order of their occurrence, and by way of introduction tells enough of the story of the times so that one may understand the full significance of each of these great masterpieces. The historical setting and the speeches together present a very important part of the history of our country in a most impressive way. The reading of this book cannot fail to make better American citizens-imbued with a still more patriotic spirit and with a much greater reverence for our flag. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS THE Authors gratefully acknowledge their indebtedness to the following publishers and authors for permission to reprint copyrighted material: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY: Paul Revere's Ride. State. HENRY HOLT & COMPANY and THE ATLANTIC THE YOUTH'S COMPANION. The Flag Goes By. JOHN LANE COMPANY. The United States Not a TABLE OF CONTENTS HOW PATRICK HENRY SOUNDED THE CALL FROM VIRGINIA. "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death." Patrick Henry Paul Revere's Ride. Poem. Henry W. Longfellow THE CONCORD HYMN. Poem. Ralph Waldo Emerson THE UNITED STATES BECOMES A NATION The Declaration of Independence THE SPEECH THAT JOHN ADAMS SHOULD HAVE MADE Daniel Webster on John Adams. "Sink or Swim" THE FLAG GOES BY. Poem. H. H. Bennett. THE DRAFTING OF OUR CONSTITUTION Franklin Urges that the Constitution be Adopted OUR NATION NOT FOR SALE. Charles C. Pinckney THE WAR-SHIP OF 1812. Poem. Philadelphia Record How OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM CAME TO BE WRITTEN The Star Spangled Banner. Poem. F. S. Key THE GREATEST SPEECH OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN ORATOR 56 LONGFELLOW DESCRIBES THE REPUBLIC. The Ship of State. Poem. Henry W. Longfellow A House Divided Against Itself. Abraham Lincoln. The Gettysburg Address. Abraham Lincoln THE BLUE AND THE GRAY. Poem. Francis M. Finch. THE QUESTION OF SLAVERY DECIDED From Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address. 77 79 84 85 168 |
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