CHAPTER III.
ALBERT R. PARSONS' SPEECH IN COURT.
THE VERDICT WAS A VERDICT OF PASSION—THE CHICAGO CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION DEMANDED OUR EXTINCTION BY AN IGNOMINIOUS DEATH—THE WAGE SYSTEM, ITS FRUITION OR BIRTH—HELD IN LOATHSOME CONTEMPT WITHOUT A CHANCE TO CONTRADICT A WORD—"THE ALARM" A FREE PRESS AND FREE SPEECH PAPER—A STREET RIOT DRILL ON THANKSGIVING DAY—THE STARS AND STRIPES IN FORMER SAYS FLOATED ON EVERY WATER AS THE EMBLEM OF THE FREE—CAN A MAN VOTE HIMSELF BREAD, OR CLOTH, OR SHELTER?—GUNPOWDER THE INAUGURATION OF A NEW ERA—DYNAMITE COMES AS THE EMANCIPATOR OF MAN—FOR MY SURRENDER I HAD NO REGRETS TO OFFER.
FREEDOM.
Toil and pray! Thy world cries cold;
Speed thy prayer, for time is gold;
At they door Need's subtle tread;
Pray in haste! For time is bread.
And thou plow'st and thou hew'st,
And thou rivet'st and sewest,
And thou harvestest in vain;
Speak! O, man: what is they gain?
Fly'st the shuttle day and night,
Heav'st the ores of earth to light,
Fill'st with treasures plenty's horn—
Brim'st it o'er with win and corn.
But who hate they meal prepared,
Festive garments with thee shared;
And where is they cheerful hearth,
Thy good shield in battle dearth?
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