For the most part the silly conspiracy theories about the establishment of the United States are good only for laughs. One of my favorites, however, features a speech from a mysterious figure usually associated with Freemasons, Rosicrucians and/or the Bavarian Illuminati of Adam Weishaupt.
I don’t believe for one minute that such an enigmatic man showed up and tipped the balance toward ratifying the Declaration of Independence with a fiery, impassioned speech. However, I DO believe that the wording of that fictional tirade is pretty moving and nicely captures the feel of Independence Day.
Here is the relevant part. I’m omitting the ridiculous section where this mystery man supposedly made Nostradamus-style predictions about America’s future.
“They (the British) may stretch our necks on all the gibbets in the land. They may turn every rock into a scaffold, every tree into a gallows, every home into a grave and yet the words of that parchment can never die!”
“They may pour our blood on a thousand scaffolds and yet from every drop that dyes the axe a new champion of freedom will spring into birth. The British king may blot out the stars of God from the sky but he cannot blot out His words written on that parchment there. The works of God may perish … His words, never!”
“The words of this Declaration will live in the world long after our bones are dust. To the mechanic in his workshop they will speak hope. To the slave in the mines, freedom. But to the coward kings these words will speak in tones of warning they cannot choose but hear.”
“Sign that parchment! Sign if the next moment the gibbet’s rope is about your neck! Sign if the next minute this hall rings with the clash of falling axes! Sign by all your hopes in life or death as men, as husbands, as fathers, brothers! Sign your names to the parchment or be accursed forever!”
“Sign, and not only for yourselves but for all ages, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom … the Bible of the rights of man forever!”
The stranger then supposedly disappeared before the Continental Congress’ members could thank him. Uh. Yeah. Right. But I repeat, the wording is so filled with leonine fire that it’s a shame the speech wasn’t real. The sentiments still apply, though.
© Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Edward Wozniak and Balladeer’s Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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Well written 👍🤗
Thank you!
Most welcome 😊🤗
You’re very kind!
Wow!!! I’ve never even heard that story! What a speech! Thanks for the education, Balladeer. And for whatever it’s worth…this tiny corner of Your peanut gallery absolutely believes he could have disappeared. Maybe he was an Angel? A time traveler who teletransported after gifting this passion? An apparating Alien trying to lend a hand? Work with me here, Balladeer!!! Work with me. 🤣OH!!! And speaking of cool sci-fi….my best of C.L. Moore came! YAY!!!! Will crack it soon! Cheers, Happy 4th and Rock on!!! 🥂🇺🇸🎆
Okay, I’ll work with you, maybe he disappeared. Always great to hear from you! I hope you enjoy the C.L. Moore stories! Happy 4th to you, too!
😅 You’re a great humourer! Yay! Thank You! Let’s say he was an Alien from another galaxy and be done with it! 🤣 I AM really enjoying her stories. Am halfway through the second and she has the coolest voice…her narration is so wonderfully of the era. Loving it so far. Thank You! 😀
Okay, an alien from another galaxy it is! That is great that you are enjoying her stories so much! Take care! Always good to hear from you!
You too!!! 😊
Thanks!
💕
Thanks!
Nice speech. You might enjoy this past from last year Independence Day. Seems even more applicable today in light of the pandemic. https://peterronwood.com/2019/07/O4/thedeclarationofinterdependence/
Thanks! I’ll take a look!
Yeah what you said. Never happened but the wording is good.
Thank you!
Those words are so powerful they are like something President Trump would say. You mad? Here’s a cape. Now you can be supermad.
You know it!
That’s an interesting bit of folklore.
I agree. I often joke that the author of The Monks of Monk Hall should have implied that his character Ravoni was the mysterious man.
Great article! I love American folklore!
Thank you.
Greetings!
Hello!
Interesting story.
Thanks.