But what could he do? He was only one man against the armed might of Britain. If he had been a King, Czar, or a Potentate, he could have solved vast problems and the great things-he could have brought the powers of Europe together in harmony and made an ever lasting peace and prosperity around a world.

But he was not a king, nor a royal governor, not a rich man, not an important man. He was just one little man, unknown to anyone outside of his own neighborhood. So what could he do? Why should he take the initiative? Such things usually cleared up they always had. So why not let nature take its course, this was no time to be foolhardy. He must keep calm, use his head, and consider the practical aspects. And there was his family to think of. What would become of them?

Most men felt that way. They knew they could do nothing, and they had better sense than to try. That night in Lexington, many of them stayed in bed. But the unknown individual chose between submission that look like safety to rebellion that seemed utterly hopeless. Many respective citizens were against him; the teachers and the writers of books were against him. Men in high places-many widely known men- stood staunchly with the King.