“Ah,” quickly replied Agitator, “if the offer be sincere, why should it go by default on my simple refusal to be turned from my present course?  Let some other one, better qualified than I, attend to the management of this noble cause.”

Magnate advanced a step and with emphatic gesture gave his ultimatum: 

“You are the recognized leader of the masses, the idol of all the poor and of the so-called oppressed.  In you the very persons whom we hope to benefit have unbounded confidence, and naturally you are the only man who can make wisest and most efficient use of this large sum of money.  We have no other choice and I ask you once more, for the sake of suffering humanity, to accept the leadership of this worthy cause which will do more for the people than all other reform movements combined.  You can make no mistake in accepting our offer.  This is the only right thing for you to do.”

Agitator took no time to study his reply.  His words were born on the occasion for the occasion.  He spoke with marked power in his voice and fiery electricity in his eye: 

“I have made my final decision.  I am married to my reform movement and seek no divorce.  I want all people to have free air as they have free sunlight.  I am determined that neither favor nor force, neither Magnate nor money, shall swerve me from my course.  The people of my time shall see their liberty, or I shall see my death!”

This reply of Agitator is most memorable.  It is quoted more than the famous words of Patrick Henry of our world:  “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

Agitator pushed his cause with remarkable skill.  Soon his movements reached such proportions that great men courted his favor.  The masses clung to him with truest loyalty.  He took full advantage of the situation and gained control of the legislative bodies.

Then followed the great enactment.  All the air of the world was declared to be free, and any one attempting to buy or sell this natural and indispensable product was guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by fines and heavy bonds.

The celebration of this victory was extreme.  The most wonderful jubilations were held at the air tanks.  Famous speeches were made and the tanks were sold by permission of their owners.  One enthusiastic person bought a tank, declared that he would sell it in small pieces for relics, and use the proceeds for educating poor children.  The scene that followed beggars description.  Everybody knew that this was a cut at Magnate, and the buying of relics was carried on in an unprecedented manner.  The amount of money netted by this sale was so large that several schools were erected and an endowment provided for their maintenance.

All this happened long ago on the world of Airess.  But the memory of these unusual times will never die.  They have an annual day of celebration much resembling, in its festivities, our Fourth of July.