Werewetodrowntheworldwiththem，couldtheworldblameus？
\"Buttoresume：Shallwe，mycountrymen，sufferthiswickedstrangertodepartunharmed，andtriumphinhistreacherousvictory，amongdistantcommunitiesoftheearth？Shallwenotrathercompelhimtoleavehisboneshereonoursoil，bythesideofourslainbrother’sbones？sothat，whileoneskeletonshallremainastheeverlastingmonumentofoursorrow，theothershallendureaslong，exhibitingtothewholehumanraceaterribleexampleofPygmyvengeance！Suchisthequestion。I
putittoyouinfullconfidenceofaresponsethatshallbeworthyofournationalcharacter，andcalculatedtoincrease，ratherthandiminish，theglorywhichourancestorshavetransmittedtous，andwhichweourselveshaveproudlyvindicatedinourwarfarewiththecranes。\"
Theoratorwashereinterruptedbyaburstofirrepressibleenthusiasm；everyindividualPygmycryingoutthatthenationalhonormustbepreservedatallhazards。Hebowed，and，makingagestureforsilence，wounduphisharangueinthefollowingadmirablemanner：
\"Itonlyremainsforus，then，todecidewhetherweshallcarryonthewarinournationalcapacity——oneunitedpeopleagainstacommonenemy——orwhethersomechampion，famousinformerfights，shallbeselectedtodefytheslayerofourbrotherAntaeustosinglecombat。Inthelattercase，thoughnotunconsciousthattheremaybetallermenamongyou，Iherebyoffermyselfforthatenviableduty。Andbelieveme，dearcountrymen，whetherIliveordie，thehonorofthisgreatcountry，andthefamebequeathedusbyourheroicprogenitors，shallsuffernodiminutioninmyhands。Never，whileIcanwieldthissword，ofwhichInowflingawaythescabbard——never，never，never，evenifthecrimsonhandthatslewthegreatAntaeusshalllaymeprostrate，likehim，onthesoilwhichIgivemylifetodefend。\"