Is any man so despicable, so lost to honor, that in such a case he will
put aside the welfare of a nation for the miserable sake of party
popularity? Are we to stand here in the guise and manner of free men,
knowing that we are driven together like a flock of sheep into the fold by
the howling of the wolves outside? Are we to strut and plume ourselves
upon our unhampered freedom, while we act like slaves? Worse than slaves
we should be if we allowed one breath of party spirit, one thought of
party aggrandizement, to enter into the choice we are about to make.
Slaves are driven to their work; shall we willingly let ourselves be
beaten into doing the dirty work of others by sacrificing the nobility of
our manhood? Do we meet here, like paid gladiators of old, to cut each
other's throats in earnest while attacking and defending a sham fortress,
raised in the arena for the diversion of those who set us on to the
butchery and promise to pay the survivors? Are we to provide a feast of
carrion for a flock of vultures and unclean beasts of prey, when we need
only stand together, and be true to ourselves and to each other, to
accomplish one of the greatest acts in history? The vultures will leave us
alone unless we destroy each other; we need not fear them.
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