The "Spirit of Liberty"

To illustrate the way in which Eustace equates power to language, we can look at the example of Pennsylvania lawyer, John Dickinson.  In his exhortation to colonists, he invokes the "spirit of liberty" as a means to identify popular feeling and create opposition to a recalcitrant British Parliament.  By doing so he takes the power of emotion and transforms it into readable language.  The popular sentiment against British oppression, visible in the Stamp Act of 1764 and the Quartering Act of 1765, is the core of the emotion.  In order for sentiment to have power, there must be some kind of expression.  In this case, the linguistic transformation of a social current is the expression of power. 

The equation of power with language elevated the elite by mass communication.  The elites required the galvanization of the masses, i.e. those who did not possess the same wealth or political influence, in order to effect the Revolution.  Eustace explains, "Patriot leaders found their solution in the notion of spirit, a vehement brand of emotion that burnished the power of passion with the luster of classical virtue." (387)  In Dickinson's exhortation, the respectable spirit of liberty is encouraged.  The fact that the elite possessed the literary and political means to disseminate the new ideas of freedom, meant that they had control over the apparatus to incite dissent.  As long as they held control, they had power over the masses.  Once the new ideas were adopted by ordinary people, the Revolution could take place.

Language is an agent of historical change because of its capacity to move people to action.  Political tensions had existed since 1764, and had gained traction in the popular belief in liberty against tyranny.  The conglomeration of like-minded colonists occurred because of a common purpose.   Dickinson writes, "You will be a "band of brothers,” cemented by the dearest ties, - and strengthened with inconceivable supplies of force and constancy, by that sympathetic ardor, which animates good men, confederated in a good cause." (420)  Once the passion for freedom became a social movement, the ensuing military confrontations were the products of the build-up of emotion.  There were many different factors that led to armed rebellion; however, the language of liberty stirred popular action.  Eustace explains that Dickinson established the spirit of liberty as a uniquely American emotion, one that activated the colonists, and produced historical change. (420)