They were all waiting for the matter to be discussed in public. 他们都在等候公共讨论这件事。
Believing in the power of reason as applied through public discussion, they eschewed silence coerced by law -- the argument of force in its worst form. 坚信贯通在公共讨论中的理性的力量,先贤们不用强制性的法律,即最坏形式的武力,制造沉默。