44. "The war, then, must go on.[1] We must fight it
through. And if the war must go on, why put off longer
the Declaration of Independence? That measure will
strengthen us. It will give us character abroad. The nations will then treat with us, which they never can do while
we acknowledge ourselves subjects, in arms against our sovereign. Nay, I maintain, that England herself will sooner
treat for peace with us on the footing of Independence, than
consent, by repealing her acts, to acknowledge that her
whole conduct towards us has been a course of injustice and
oppression. Her pride will be less wounded by submitting
to that course of things which now predestinates our Independence, than by yielding the points in controversy to her
rebellious subjects. The former she would regard as the result of fortune; the latter she would feel as her own deep
disgrace. Why then, why then, Sir, do we not as soon as
possible change this from a civil to a national war? And
since we must fight it through, why not put ourselves in a
state to enjoy all the benefits of victory, if we gain the victory?
45. "If we fail, it can be no worse for us. But we shall not fail. The cause will raise up armies; the cause will create navies. The people, the people, if we are true to them, will carry us, and will carry themselves, gloriously, through this struggle. I care not how fickle other people have been found. I know the people of these Colonies, and I know that resistance to British aggression is deep and settled in their hearts and can not be eradicated. Every Colony, indeed, has expressed its willingness to follow, if we but take the lead. Sir, the Declaration will inspire the people with increased courage. Instead of a long and bloody war for the restoration of privileges, for redress of grievances, for chartered immunities, held under a British king,
- ↑ All of this imaginary speech is worth special study from Mr. Webster's use of homely, terse, and vigorous Saxon words. The simplicity and purity of the style is unsurpassed in modern oratory. It is the one great secret by which Webster reached the minds of men. This simplicity was, of course, the natural result of the clearness and vigor of his thought.
