Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           CaesarrefusedtolistenandwasstabbedintheSenateHouse.TheBourbonLouisrefusedtolistenanddiedontheguillotine;CharlesStuartrefusedtolistenanddiedontheblock;thewhiteCzarrefusedtolistenandwasblownupinhisowncapital.Willyouletitcometothat?Willyoudriveustoit?Wewhoboastofourlandoffreedom,wewholiveinthecountryofliberty?GoonasyouhavebegunanditWILLcometothat.Turnadeafeartothatcryof’LetMypeoplego’toolongandanothercrywillberaised,thatyoucannotchoosebuthear,acrythatyoucannotshutout.Itwillbethecryofthemanonthestreet,the’alaBastille’thatwakestheRedTerrorandunleashesRevolution.Harassed,plundered,exasperated,desperate,thepeoplewillturnatlastastheyhaveturnedsomany,manytimesbefore.You,ourlords,you,ourtask-masters,you,ourkings;youhavecaughtyourSamson,youhavemadehisstrengthyourown.Youhaveshornhishead;youhaveputouthiseyes;youhavesethimtoturnyourmillstones,togrindthegristforyourmills;youhavemadehimashameandamock.Takecare,oh,asyouloveyourlives,takecare,lestsomedaycallingupontheLordhisGodhereachnotouthisarmsforthepillarsofyourtemples.”

           Theaudience,atfirstbewildered,confusedbythisunexpectedinvective,suddenlytookfireathislastwords.Therewasaroarofapplause;then,moresignificantthanmerevociferation,Presley’slisteners,ashebegantospeakagain,grewsuddenlysilent.Hisnextsentenceswereutteredinthemidstofaprofoundstillness.