Read the excerpt from president woodrow wilson’s speech “the meaning of liberty,” in which wilson refers directly to independence hall, where he is speaking. the us declaration of independence and constitution were debated and adopted in this hall.
it is very inspiring, my friends, to come to this that may be called the original fountain of independence and liberty in american and here drink draughts of patriotic feeling which seem to renew the very blood in one’s veins. down in washington sometimes when the days are hot and the business presses intolerably and there are so many things to do that it does not seem possible to do anything in the way it ought to be done, it is always possible to lift one’s thought above the task of the moment and, as it were, to realize that great thing of which we are all parts, the great body of american feeling and american principle. no man could do the work that has to be done in washington if he allowed himself to be separated from that body of principle. he must make himself feel that he is a part of the people of the united states, that he is trying to think not only for them, but with them, and then he cannot feel lonely. he not only cannot feel lonely but he cannot feel afraid of anything.
my dream is that as the years go on and the world knows more and more of america it will also drink at these fountains of youth and renewal. …
which option best describes the point that wilson makes by using the metaphor of the renewing fountain?
a-shared purpose and vision provide motivation for the hard work of democracy.
b-the goal and rules of democracy are always changing and depend on the politics of the contemporary moment.
c-democratic leaders must be exceptional individuals with internal reserves of fortitude.
d-in a democracy, less powerful people need to faithfully do their part to keep the country strong, without ever seeing the larger picture.