To Charge or Retreat?

[twayne]

Here's a great article from my good friend Frank Carlton. Twayne



To Charge or Retreat?





Considering the trying times in which we live, all of us would do well to look back to the words of Patrick Henry. Though spoken almost 230 years ago, I pray you all see how apt they are for us now.

“No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The question before the House 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; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes to 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? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has lately been received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted?

Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. 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 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 adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? 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 people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, 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! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable- and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? 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!” 23 March, 1775

[twayne]

As in Patrick Henry’s time, our liberty too is at stake, our chains also have been forged. Much debate has been floating about as to how dreadful it all is, who is to blame and what, if anything can be done about it. While an advocate of free debate, I have enough common sense to realise, it is now a complete waste of time and energy. As we set around discussing the erosion of liberty, our enemy is actively working to completely erase our God given rights.

Take a look back in your mind over the events of the last ten years. You must admit, it creates a sad picture. Many historians agree, Americans are in worse shape now than our Colonial ancestors were under the heel of the British.

But still we have not stood up and cried “enough!” Will the day come when the men and women of this country will again find their backbones? Is the blood that ran so hot in the veins of our Colonial and Confederate ancestors now that diluted and lukewarm? Will we too fall under these scathing words Samuel Adams spoke to the apathetic cowards of his day?

“If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your council, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget ye were our countrymen.”

Maybe I am still overly optimistic, but I believe the people of this country, at least those of the South and the West, still have the old fire in them. I still see much evidence of it from those two quarters.

But, on three fronts these people are being for the most part, rendered useless. On the one, they are so weighed down by the enormity of what faces them; they feel there is no chance of victory, so what use to try?

On another, many that are active in the fight for liberty are being kept busy putting out small brush fires created by the enemy to sway their focus from the desired end.

On the last, infighting within and between various groups in our regions are restricting fighting capabilities to a minimum.

Our enemy is in fact enormous and indeed a formidable foe. The Psalmist told us of things to come in the world’s latter days, when he said, “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take council together, against the Lord and His Anointed, saying, ’Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us’” (Psalm 2:1-2).

But, we should all remember this, “If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). And too, Jesus commanded us to occupy until His return. What better way to fill our time than in fighting all those who would force us to deny our Lord and Saviour, our history and our freedom?

The foe has kept us so busy these last few years fighting defensive battles on ground of their own choosing we have had no choice but to continually pull back. Our enemy knows we have no chance of victory as long as we are forced to constantly fight off a charging army.

We must start taking the battle to the enemy on our own ground. There are some interesting ideas coming to the surface now concerning putting “those people” on the defensive for a change. Some or all of these plans must be seen through as soon as possible.

But, consider the groups that are now trying to destroy our culture and liberty. What makes them so effective at their work? It is the fact they have no trouble setting aside petty differences to join forces in this war against us.

Who would have dreamed even 20 years ago that such a vast array of groups, from invading Mexican and Muslim hordes to “so called” Christian groups blindly following the status quo would join together in ripping up the very foundations America was built upon?

We on the other hand have been sorely lacking in this ability. The time has come for us to lay aside our own egos, jealousy and pride, for if we do not we will never become an effective fighting force. What is more important, time in the spotlight of our respective groups, or the future we leave to our children? Do we have the courage and determination to charge in the face of our enemies or will we retreat in submission and slavery?

The times we live in have no place for those only concerned with personal gain. It is my prayer those with pure motives in saving what is left of our country rise up and make their voices heard. And those only concerned with themselves, their comfort or their vainglory do as Samuel Adams counseled, “go home from us….and may posterity forget ye were our countrymen.”

For the Cause,

Frank Carlton

[GrayGhost]

Fitting words indeed Twayne, and they still ring true to this day.

Perhaps one day soon Southerners will shake themselves awake, when nearly all our liberties are gone, sold away to the federals in an attempt at security. Hopefully then our people will finally feel the fire to throw off our oppressors and yearn to be free again.

[IRONCLAD]

So true Grayghost.....only when our liberties are taken away will the Southerners and southerners at heart realize ...."We need to do something about it" That's when it'll be to later to do something about it......we won't have the real to do anything.

It's a shame people today only care for themselves and not the whole. When you think of the whole, then it'll be a safe and free Southern Country.

IRONCLAD