Read this excerpt which emerson wrote about john brown and answer the question. he believes in two articles,- two instruments, shall i say? – the golden rule and the declaration of independence; and he used this expression in conversation here concerning them, "better that a whole generation of men, women, and children should pass away by a violent death than one word of either should be violated in this country." there is a unionist. – there is a strict constructionist for you. he believes in the union of the states, and he conceives that the only obstruction to the union is slavery, and for that reason, as a patriot, he works for its abolition. which statement best demonstrates how emerson uses this excerpt in his defense of john brown? emerson creates support for brown's actions by crediting him with honoring two values which few people would argue against: the golden rule and the declaration of independence. emerson evaluates brown's assertion that he believes in the values of the golden rule and the declaration of independence by showing which of brown's actions demonstrate these values. emerson shows that brown measures his actions by holding them accountable to his beliefs and states that his actions were motivated by doing what was right for the country. emerson demonstrates that brown's actions were governed by his uncompromised principles and his determination to work for the welfare of the nation.