The public criticism of a baron meant the confiscation of the peasant's land; the criticism of the pope meant the dungeon; the criticism of the king meant death.

Now all are free to think for themselves, to sift all knowledge and public teachings, to cast away the chaff and to save the precious wheat.

But to buy this freedom blood has flowed like rivers and tears have been too cheap to count.
To achieve these two principles, called liberty of thought and liberty of speech, some four thousand battles have been fought.

In exchange, therefore, for one of these principles of freedom and happiness, society has paid--not cash down, but blood down; vital treasure for staining two thousand battle-fields.

To-day the serf has entered into citizenship and the slave into freedom, but the pathway along which the slave and serf have moved has been over chasms filled with the bodies of patriots and hills that have been leveled by heroes' hands.