liberty and religion made nobleness epidemic. Oft stoned and mobbed in
the cities they founded and loved, they fled into exile, where they
wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and slept in the holes of
the earth. Falling at last in the wilderness, it may be said that no
man knoweth their sepulcher and none their names. But joyfully let us
confess that the institutions most eminent and excellent in our day
represent the very principles for which these martyrs died and, dying,
conquered. For those heroes were the first to dare earth's despots.
They won the first victory over every form of vice and sin. They wove
the first threads of the flag of liberty and made it indeed the banner
of the morning, for they dyed it crimson in their heart's-blood. In
all the history of freedom there is no chapter comparable for a moment
to the glorious achievements of these men of oak and rock. Their deeds
shine on the pages of history like stars blazing in the night and their
achievements have long been celebrated in song and story. "The angels
of martyrdom and victory," says Mazzini, "are brothers; both extend
protecting wings over the cradle of the future life."

Sometimes it has happened that the brave deed of a single patriot has
rallied wavering hosts, flashed the lightning through the centuries,
and kindled whole nations into a holy enthusiasm. The opposing legions
of soldiers and inquisitors went down before the heroism of the early
church as darkness flees before the advancing sunshine. Society
admires the scholar, but man loves the hero. Wisdom shines, but
bravery inspires and lifts. Though centuries have passed, these noble
deeds still nourish man's bravery and endurance. It was not given to
these leaders to enter into the fruits of their labors. Vicariously
they died. With a few exceptions, their very names remain unknown.
But let us hasten to confess that their vicarious suffering stayed the
onset of despotism and achieved our liberty. They ransomed us from