"Whatever may be our fate, be assured that this Declaration will stand. It may cost blood, it may cost blood and treasure. But it will stand and will richly compensate for both. Through the thick gloom of the present I see the brightness of the future as the sun in heaven. We shall make this a glorious and immortal day. When we are in our graves our children will honor it. They will celebrate it with thanksgiving, with festivities, with bonfires, and illuminations. On its annual return they will shed tears, copious tears; not of subjection and slavery, not of agony of distress, but exultation of gratitude and of joy. "Sir, before God I believe the hour has com.e My judgment approves of this measure and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, all that I am, and all that I hope to be in this life, I am ready now and here to stake upon it. "And I leave off as I began: That 'Live or die, survive or perish, sink or swim,' I give my hand and my heart to this vote. It has been my living sentiment; and by the help of God it shall be my dying sentiment; INDEPENDENCE NOW AND INDEPENDENCE FOREVER.” (Group of small children run on stage shouting and gesturing.) Go, ring the bells, and fire the guns, Shout "Freedom!" till your lisping ones CURTAIN Scene 4. Evening programme. 1. Piano Number-Washington's March (Hail Columbia) 2. The Battle of Bunker Hill... Poem by F. S. Cozzens 3. Liberty Song, "Come Join Hand in Hand," etc.. Mercy Warren Come join hand in hand, brave Americans all, Chorus: In freedom we're born, and in freedom we'll live, Not as slaves, but as freemen, our money we'll give. 4. Speech of William Pitt-House of Commons, January, 1776. Mr. Speaker: The day has now come to consider the state of the nation with respect to America. Gentlemen, this is the greatest subject that has ever engaged the attention of this House, one subject alone excepted when, near a century ago, it was the question whether you yourselves were to be bond or free. At this time I will speak to but one point. TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION. Sir: It is my opinion that this kingdom has no right to tax the colonies. They are the subjects of this kingdom, equally entitled with yourselves to all the natural rights of mankind and the peculiar privileges of Englishmen. Americans are the sons, not the bastards, of England. Gentlemen tell us that America is obstinate, America in almost in open rebellion. Sir, I rejoice that America has resisted. Three millions so dead to all the feelings of liberty as voluntarily to submit to be slaves would have been fit instruments to make slaves of all the rest. And, sir, if I were an American as I am an Englishman, while a foreign foe remained on our soil I would never lay down my arms, never, NEVER, NEVER!!! 5. Song.... "Ode to the 4th of July" ... THE AMERICAN Come all ye sons of song, pour the full sound along, Beneath these western skies, see a new empire rise, Tyrannic chains. Now all ye sons of song, pour the full sound along, For in this western clime, Freedom shall rise sublime Shall cease to roll. 6. Speech of Patrick Henry (Delivered at Richmond, Va., on a Resolution to put the Commonwealth into a state of defense, March 23, 1775) This is no time for ceremony. The question now before us 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. Mr. President, it is natural for 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 wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies have bound us hand and foot? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves any longer. Sir, we have done everything that could be done, to avert the storm that is now coming on. But our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves 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! They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an enemy. Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of our people, armed in the holy cause of Îiberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat, but in submission and slavery. The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come. Gentlemen cry. Peace, Peace-but there is no peace. Is life so dear, or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH! 7. Song. .... Yankee Doodle 8. Dance.. Minuette ACT II. THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION The Constitutional Convention assembled in 1787, in the same city, the same building (the State House), and in the same room that the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed in 1776. George Washington was President of this Convention, which numbered fifty-five members. An abler body of statesmen had not assembled in modern times than this which made the Constitution in 1787, nor has any assembly met with truer motives or produced a grander result. (Prominent members file in as their names are called by an announcer off stage.) George Washington (Va.)-Father of his country. Statesman. Soldier. Benjamin Franklin (Penn.)-Oldest man in Convention. Philosopher and Diplomat. John Dickenson (Del.)-Who opposed the Declaration of Independence, but a true Patriot. • James Wilson (Penn.)-The ablest Lawyer in the Convention. Robert Morris (Penn.)-Financier of the Revolution. Gouveneur Morris (Penn.)-Author of our Decimal System of money and writer of the Constitution. James Madison (Va.)-Father of the Constitution and a PresiIdent of the United States. Edmond Randolph (Va.)-First Attorney-General of the Cabinet. Alexander Hamilton (N. Y.)-Brilliant orator and ablest de fender of the Constitution. Killed by Aaron Burr in a duel. John Rutledge (S. C.)-Orator from South Carolina. Charles C. Pinckney (S. C.)-Famous for the saying, "Millions for defense but not one cent for tribute." Rufus King (Mass.)-Noted politician of Massachusetts. Later Senator for New York. Elbridge Gerry (Mass.)-Famed for the term, "Gerrymander." Roger Sherman (Conn.)-The shoemaker statesman from Connecticut. (The other members file in and take their seats with Mr. William Jackson, Secretary, and several little children as pages sitting on steps, and the Doorkeeper and Sergeant-at-arms.) |