Suddenly Samuel realized
the import of that word "comrade" which they gave one another; they
were men bound together by the memory of persecutions, and by the
presence of ruthless enemies. They knew what they were facing at this
moment; not only Chief McCullagh with his policemen and their clubs;
not only the subsidized "Express" with its falsehoods and ridicule:
but all the political and business power of the Hickmans and Wygants.
They were facing arrest and imprisonment, humiliation and disgrace--
perhaps ruin and starvation. Only in this way could they reach the
ears of the people.
"Comrades," the young lawyer was saying, "every step that has been
taken in the progress of humanity has been taken because men have been
willing to give their lives. Everywhere that our movement has grown,
it has been in the face of persecution. And sooner or later we must
make up our minds to it--we may wait for years, but nothing can be
accomplished until we have faced this issue. And so I ask you to join
with me in taking this pledge--that we will speak on the streets of
Lockmanville next Saturday night, and that we will continue to speak
there as often as need be until we have vindicated our rights as
American citizens."
There was a solemn hush when he finished; one by one the men and women
arose and offered themselves.
"I have been out of work for four months," said one, "and I have been
promised a job next week.
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