ToEdwardandAnnaMartinwhogivehelpintimeoftroubleChapterI:ConcerningOne'sLetterBoxPublishanysortofconvictionrelatedtothesemorosedaysthroughwhichwearelivingandletterswillshoweruponyoulikeleavesinOctober。Nomatterwhatyourconvictionbe，itwillshakebothyeasandnaysloosefromvariousmindswheretheywerehangingreadytofall。Neverwasatimewhensomanybrainsrustledwithhatesandpanaceasthatwouldsailwideintotheairatthelightestjar。Tryitandsee。SaythatyoubelieveinGod，ordonot；
saythatDemocracyisthekeytothemillennium，orthesurvivaloftheunfittest；thatLaborisworsethantheKaiser，orbetter；thatdrinkisademon，orthatwineministerstothehealthandthecheerofman——saywhatyouplease，andtheyeasandnayswillpeltyou。Soinsecurelydotheplainest，oldesttruthsdangleinamobofdisheveledbrains，thatitislikely，didyouasserttwicetwocontinuestoequalfourandwehadbeststicktothemultiplicationtable，anonymousletterswouldcometoyoufullofpassionateabuse。
Thinkingcomeshardtoallofus。Tosomeitnevercomesatall，becausetheirheadslackthemachinery。Howmanyofsucharethereamongus，andhowcanwefindthemoutbeforetheydousharm?Sciencehasatestforthis。Ithasbeenappliedtothearmyrecruit，buttothecivilianvoternotyet。ThevotingmoronstillrunsamuckinourDemocracy。OurnativeAmericanairisinfectedwithalienbreath。Itissothickwithopinionsthatthelightisobscured。Willthesaneoneseventuallyprevailandhealthesickatmosphere?Wemustatleastassumeso。Else，howcouldwegoon?
ChapterII:WhatthePostmanBroughtDuringthewinterof1915IcametothinkthatGermanyhadgonedangerouslybutmethodicallymad，andthattheEuropeanWarvitallyconcernedourselves。ThisconvictionIputinabook。Yeasandnayspeltedme。Timeseemstoshowtheyeashadit。
DuringMay，1918，IthoughtwemadeamistaketohateEngland。Isaidsoattheearliestopportunity。Againcametheyeasandnays。Youshallseesomeofthese。Theyareofhelp。Timehasnotsettledthisquestion。Itisasaliveasever——morealivethanever。WhatiftheArmisticewaspremature?WhatifGermanyabsorbRussiaandjoinJapan?WhatiftheLeagueofNationsbreaklikeatoy?
Yeasandnaysareputherewithouttheconsentoftheirwriters，whosenames，ofcourse，donotappear，andwho，shouldtheyeverseethis，arebeggedtotakenooffense。Noneisintended。
Thereisnointentionexcepttopersuade，ifpossible，afewreaders，atleast，thathatredofEnglandisnotwise，isnotjustifiedto-day，andhasneverbeenmorethanpartlyjustified。Itisbaseduponthreefoundationsfairlydistinctyetmeetingandmergingonoccasions:firstandworst，ourschoolhistoriesoftheRevolution；second，certainpoliciesandactionsofEnglandsincethen，generallydistortedorfalsifiedbyourpoliticians；andlastlycertainnationaltraitsineachcountrythattheotherdoesnotshareandwhichhavehithertoproducedperennialpersonalfrictionbetweenthousandsofEnglishandAmericanindividualsofeverystationinlife。Theseshallinduetimebeillustratedbytwosetsofanecdotes:one，disclosingtheEnglishtraits，theothertheAmerican。IsayEnglish，andnotBritish，advisedly，becauseboththeScotchandtheIrishseemtobewithoutthosetraitswhichespeciallygrateuponusanduponwhichweespeciallygrate。Andnowfortheletters。
Thefirstisfromasoldier，anenlistedman，writingfromFrance。
"Allowmetothankyouforyourarticleentitled'TheAncientGrudge。'……LikemanyotheryoungAmericanstherewasinstilledinmefromearlychildhoodafeelingofresentmentagainstourdemocraticcousinsacrosstheAtlanticandIwasonlytooreadytoacceptastruethosestoriesI
heardofEnglandshirkingherdutyandhidingbehindhercolonies，etc。
ItwasnotuntilIcameoverhereandsawwhatshewasreallydoingthatmyopinionbegantochange。
"WhenfirstmydivisionarrivedinFranceitwasbrigadedwithandreceiveditsinitialexperiencewiththeBritish，whoprovedtoushowlittlewereallyknewofthewarasitwasandthatwehadyetmuchtolearn。SoonmyopinionbegantochangeandIwasregardingEnglandasthebackboneoftheAllies。YetthereremainedacertainsomethingIcouldnotforgivethem。Whatitwasyouknow，andhaveprovedtomethatitisnotourplacetojudgeandthatwehavemuchforwhichtobethankfultoourgreatAlly。
"Assuringyouthatyour……articlehassucceededinconvertingonewhoneededconversionbadlyIbegtoremain……"
HowmanyAmericansoldiersinEurope，Iwonder，havelookedaboutthem，haveusedtheirsensibleindependentAmericanbrainsourverybestcharacteristic，haveleftschoolhistoriesandhearsaybehindthemandjudgedtheEnglishforthemselves?Agoodmany，itistobehoped。Whatthatjudgmentfinallybecomesmustdependnotaloneuponthepersonalexperienceofeachman。Itmustalsocomefromthatliberalityofoutlookwhichisattainedonlybygettingoutsideyourownplaceandseeingalotofcustomsandpeoplethatdifferfromyourown。Amindthusseasonedandbalancednolongerleapstoanopinionaboutawholenationfromthesporadicconductofindividualmembersofit。ItistobefearedthatsomeofoursoldiersmayneverforgetormakeallowanceforacertaininsulttheyreceivedinthestreetsofLondon。Butofthislater。ThefollowingsentenceisfromaletterwrittenbyanAmericansailor:
"Ihaveread……'TheAncientGrudge'andIwishitcouldbereadbyeverymanonourbigshipasIknowitwouldchangealotoftheirattitudetowardEngland。IhavearguedwithlotsofthemandhaveshownsomeofthemwheretheyarewrongbuttheCatholicsanddescendantsofIrelandhaveadifferentargumentandasmyeducationisn'tverygreat，I
knowverylittleaboutwhatEnglanddidtotheCatholicsinIreland。"
IrelandIshalldiscusslater。Irelandisnomoreourbusinessto-daythantheSouthwasEngland'sbusinessin1861。ThattheIrishquestionshoulddefeatanunderstandingbetweenourselvesandEnglandwouldbe，toquotewhatagentlemanwhoisatoncealoyalCatholicandaloyalmemberoftheBritishGovernmentsaidtome，"wreckingtheshipforaha'pennyworthoftar。"
Thefollowingisselectedfromthenays，andwaswrittenbyabusinessman。Imustnotomittosaythatthewritersofalltheselettersarestrangerstome。
"AsoneAmericancitizentoanother……permitmetogivemypersonalviewonyoursubjectof'TheAncientGrudge'……
"Tobeginwith，Ithinkthatyoustartwithafalseideaofourkinship——
withtheideathatAmerica，becauseshespeaksthelanguageofEngland，becauseourlawsandcustomsaretoagreatextentofthesameorigin，becausemuchthatisgoodamonguscamefromtherealso，isessentiallyofEnglishcharacter，boundupinsomewaywiththesuccessorfailureofEngland。
"Nothing，inmyopinion，couldbefurtherfromthetruth。Weareadistinctiverace——nomoreEnglish，nationally，thanthepresentKingGeorgeisGerman——ascloselyrelatedandasalikeasacelluloidcombandastickofdynamite。
"WeareboundupinthesuccessofAmericaonly。TheEnglishareboundupinthesuccessofEnglandonly。Weareasfriendlyasrivalcorporations。
Wecanuniteinacommoncause，aswehave，but，oncethatisover，wewillgoourownway——whichway，owingtotheincreaseofourshippingandforeigntrade，islikelytobecomemoreandmoreantagonistictoEngland's。
"Englandhasbeenacommerciallyunscrupulousnationforgenerationsanditisidletothrowtheblameforthisorthatactofanationonanindividual。Suchargumentsmightbekeptupindefinitelyasregardsanactofanycountry。Aresponsiblenationmustbearthepraiseorodiumthatattachestoanynationalaction。IfEnglandhasexperiencedachangeofheartithasoccurredsincethedaysoftheBoerRepublic——aswantonastealasBelgium，withevenlessexcuse，andattendedwithsufficientbrutalityforallpracticalpurposes……
"Shehasdoneusmanyanillturngratuitouslyandnotasinglegoodturnthatwasnotdictatedbyselfishpolicyorjealousyofothers。Shehasshownherself，uptillyesterdayatleast，graspingandunscrupulous。Sheisnoworsethantheothersprobably——possiblyevenbetter——butitwouldbedoingourcountryanillturntopersuadeitscitizensthatEnglandwasanythinglessthananactive，dangerous，competitor，especiallyintheinfancyofourforeigntrade。Whenabusinessrivalgivesyouthegladhandandasksfondlyafterthechildren，bewarelesttheensuingemotionscostyoumoney。
"No:ourdistrustforEnglandhasnotitslifeandbeinginpernicioustextbooks。Toreallybelievethatwouldbeaninsulttoourintelligence——
evengrudgescannotlivewithoutrealfood。ShouldEnglandbecomehelplesstomorrow，ouranimosityanddistrustwoulddieto-morrow，becausewewouldknowthatshehaditnolongerinherpowertoinjureus。Thereinliesthefeeling——thetextbooksmerelyechoit……
"Inmyopinion，anavysomewhatlargerthanEngland'swouldpracticallyeliminatefromAmericathat'AncientGrudge'youdeplore。ItisEngland'snavy——herboastedandactualcontroloftheseas——whichthreatensandirritateseverynationonthefaceoftheglobethathasmaritimeaspirations。Shemayuseitwithdiscretion，asshehasforyears。Itmayevenbeattimesasourceofprotectiontoothers，asithas——butsolongasitexistsasasupremepoweritisaconstantsourceofdangerandfoodforgrudges。
"WewillneverbeafreenationuntilournavysurpassesEngland's。Theworldwillneverbeafreeworlduntiltheseasandtraderoutesarefreetoall，atalltimes，andwithoutanymenace，howeverbenevolent。
"Inconclusion……allowmetoagainstatethatIwriteasoneAmericancitizentoanotherwithnottheslightestdesiretosayanythingthatmaybepersonallyobnoxious。MyownancestorswerefromEngland。MypersonalrelationswiththeEnglishmenIhavemethavebeenverypleasant。Icanreadilybelievethattherearenobetterpeopleliving，butIfeelsostronglyonthesubject，nationally——sobitterlyopposedtoacontinuanceofEngland'sseacontrol——sofearfulthatourpeoplemaybelulledintoafeelingoffalsesecurity，thatIcannothelptryingtocombat，witheverysmallmeansinmypower，anythingthatseemstopropagateadangerousfriendship。"
Ireceivednodissentinglettersuperiortothis。TothewriterofitI
repliedthatIagreedwithmuchthathesaid，butthatevensoitdidnotinmyopinionoutweighthereasonsIhadgivenandshallnowgivemoreabundantlyinfavorofdroppingourhostilefeelingtowardEngland。
MycorrespondentsaysthatwedifferasaracefromtheEnglishasmuchasacelluloidcombfromastickofdynamite。Didoursoldiersfindthedifferenceasgreatasthat?Idoubtifourdifferencefromanybodyisquiteasgreatasthat。Again，mycorrespondentsaysthatweareboundupinourownsuccessonly，andEnglandisboundupinhersonly。Iagree。
Butsupposethetwosuccessessucceedbetterthroughfriendshipthanthroughenmity?Weareasfriendly，mycorrespondentsays，astworivalcorporations。AgainIagree。Hasitnotbeenprovedthislongwhilethatcompetingcorporationsprosperthroughfriendship?DidnottheNorthernPacificandtheGreatNorthernformacombinationcalledtheNorthernSecurities，forthesakeofmutualbenefit?UndertheShermanActtheNorthernSecuritieswasdissolved；butnoShermanactforbidsaLibertySecurities。Liberty，definedandassuredbyLaw，isEngland'sgifttothemodernworld。Liberty，definedandassuredbyLaw，isthecentralpurposeofourConstitution。JustasidenticallyastheNorthernPacificandGreatNorthernrunfromSt。PaultoSeattledoEnglandandtheUnitedStatesaimatLiberty，definedandassuredbyLaw。Asfriends，thetwonationscanswingtheworldtowardsworldstability。MycorrespondentwouldhardlyhaveinstancedtheBoersinhisreferencetoEngland'smisdeeds，hadhereflectedupontheparttheBoershaveplayedinEngland'sstrugglewithGermany。
Iwillpointoutnomoreofthelatentweaknessesthatunderlievariouspassagesinthisletter，butproceedtotheremaininglettersthatIhaveselected。Igaveonefromanenlistedmanandonefromasailor；thisisfromacommissionedofficer，inFrance。
"IcannotrefrainfromsendingyoualineofappreciationandthanksforgivingthepeopleathomeafewfactsthatIamsuresomedonotknowandthrowingalightuponamuchdiscussedtopic，whichIamsurewillhelptoremovefromsomeoftheirmindsafoolishbigotedantipathy。"
UponthesinglepointofourschoolhistoriesoftheRevolution，someofwhichIhadnamedasbeingguiltyofdistortingthefacts，acorrespondentwritesfromNebraska:
"Somemonthsago……thequestioncametome，whataboutourMontgomery'sHistorynow……IfindthateverywhereitistheKingwhoisrepresentedastakingthesemeasuresagainsttheAmericanpeople。Onpage134istheheading，AmericanCommerce；thenewKingGeorgeIII；howheinterferedwithtrade；page135，TheKingproposestotaxtheColonies；page136，'ThebestmeninParliament——suchmenasWilliamPittandEdmundBurke——
tookthesideofthecolonies。'Onpage138，'WilliamPittsaidinParliament，"inmyopinion，thiskingdomhasnorighttolayataxonthecolonies……IrejoicethatAmericahasresisted"'；page150，'TheEnglishpeoplewouldnotvolunteertofighttheAmericansandtheKinghadtohirenearly30，000Hessianstohelpdothework……TheAmericanshadnotsoughtseparation；theKing——nottheEnglishpeople——hadforceditonthem……'
"Iamwritingthis……because，asIwasgladtosee，youdidnotmincewordsinnamingseveraloftheworseoffenders。"HemeanscertainschoolhistoriesthatImentionedandshallmentionlateragain。
AnofficialfromPittsburghwrotethus:
"Incommonwithmanyotherpeople，IhavehadthesameideathatEnglandwasnotdoingallshecouldinthewar，thatwhilehercolonieswereinthethickofit，she，herself，seemedtobesparingherself，butafterreadingthisarticle……Iwillfranklyandcandidlyconfesstoyouthatithaschangedmyopinion，mademeastrongsupporterofEngland，andaboveallmademeabetterAmerican"
>FromMassachusetts:
"Itiswelltoremindyourreadersoftheerrors——orworse——inAmericanschooltextbooksandtorecountBritain'sachievementsinthepresentwar。ButofwhatpracticalavailarethesethingswhenamansohighlyplacedasthepresentSecretaryoftheNavyasksaBostonaudienceTremontTemple，October30，1918tobelievethatitwastheAmericannavywhichmadepossiblethetransportationofover2，000，000AmericanstoFrancewithoutthelossofasingletransportonthewayover?Didhenotknowthatthegreaterpartofthosetroopswerenotonlytransported，butconvoyed，byBritishvessels，largelywithdrawnforthatpurposefromsuchvitalserviceasthesupplyoffoodtoBritain'scivilpopulation?"
TheomissiononthepartofourSecretaryoftheNavywaslaterquietlyrectifiedbyanofficialpublicationoftheBritishGovernment，whereinitappearedthatsomesixtypercentofourtroopsweretransportedinBritishships。OurSecretary'sregrettableslighttoourBritishallieswasimmediatelysetrightbyAdmiralSims，whoforthwith，bothinpublicandinprivate，paidfullandappreciativetributetowhathadbeendone。
Itis，nevertheless，verylikelythatsomeAmericanswilllearnhereforthefirsttimethatmorethanhalfofourtroopswerenottransportedbyourselves，andcouldnothavebeentransportedatallbutforBritishassistance。Therearemanypersonswhostillbelievewhatourpoliticiansandnewspaperstellthem。NoincidentthatIshallrelatefurtheronservesbettertopointthechiefinternationalmoralatwhichIamdrivingthroughoutthesepages，andatwhichIhavealreadyhinted:Nevertogeneralizethecharacterofawholenationbytheactsofindividualmembersofit。Thatiswhateverybodydoes，ourselves，theEnglish，theFrench，everybody。Youcanformnovalidopinionofanynation'scharacteristics，notevenyourown，untilyouhavemethundredsofitspeople，menandwomen，andhadampleopportunitytoobserveandknowthembeneaththesurface。HereontheonehandwehadourSecretaryoftheNavy。HegaveourNavythewholecreditforgettingoursoldiersoverseas。
HejustifiedtheBritishopinionthatweareanationofbraggarts。Ontheotherhand，inLondon，wehadAdmiralSims，anotherAmerican，asplendidantidote。HecorrectedtheSecretary'sbrag。Whatisthemoral?
Lookouthowyougeneralize。SinceweenteredthewarthattribeofEnglishhasincreasedwhojudgeuswithanopenmind，discriminatebetweenus，drawclosetoajustappraisalofourqualitiesanddefects，andpossiblyevendiscernthatthosewhofillourpublicpositionsaremostlyonalowerlevelthanthosewhoelectthem。
Iproceedwithtwomoreletters，bothdissenting，andbothgivingverytypically，asitseemstome，theAmericanfeelingaboutEngland——
partiallyjustifiedbyinstancesmentionedbymycorrespondent，butequallymentionedbymeinpassageswhichheseemstohaveskipped。
"LatelyIreadanddidnotadmireyourarticle……'TheAncientGrudge。'
Manyofyourstatementsareabsolutelytrue，andIrecognizethefactthatEngland'shelpinthiswarhasbeeninvaluable。Letitgoatthatandhush!
"IdonotdefendourownIndianpolicy……WoundedanddisabledinourIndianwars……Iknowallaboutthemandhowindefensibletheyare……
"Englandhasbeenalwaysouronlylegitimateenemy。1776?Yes，callitancienthistoryandforgetitifpossible。1812?Thatmaygointhesamecategory。Butthecausesofthatmisunderstandingwereidenticallyrepeatedin1914and'15。
"1861?Isthatalsoancient?Perhaps——butverybitterinthememoryofmanyofusnowliving。TheAlabama。TheConfederateCommissionersIknowyouwillsaywewerewrongthere——andsowemayhavebeentechnically——
butJohnBullbulliedusintocompliancewhenourhandsweretied。
LincolntoldhisCabinet'onewaratatime，Gentlemen'andsubmitted……
"In1898wewereastrongandpowerfulnationandadangerousenemytoprovoke。Englandrecognizedthefactandactedaccordingly。Englandenteredthepresentwartoprotectsmallnations!Heavensavethemark!
Yousurelyreadyourhistory。PraytellmesomethingofEngland'spolicyinSouthAfrica，India，theSoudan，Persia，Abyssinia，Ireland，Egypt。
ThelostprovincesofDenmark。TheUnitedStateswhenshewasyoungandhelpless。Andthus，almostto-infinitum。
"DoyounotknowthatthefoundationsofninetypercentofthegreatBritishfortunescamefromthelootofIndia?upheldandfosteredbythegreatandunscrupulousEastIndiaCompany?
"Comedowntolatertimes:to-dayforinstance。HereinCalifornia……I
meetandassociatewithhundredsofBritishers。AretheyAmericancitizens?Ihadalmostsaid，'No，notone。'SneeringandcontemptuousofAmericaandAmericaninstitutions。Continuallyfindingfaultwithourgovernmentandourpeople。ComparingthesethingswithEngland，alwaystoourdisadvantage……
"NowdoyouwonderwedonotlikeEngland?AmIpro-German?Ishouldlaughandsowouldyouifyouknewme。"
TothiscorrespondentIdidnotreplythatIwishedIknewhim——whichI
do——that，evenashe，soIhadfrequentlybeengalledbytherudenessandthepatronizingofvariousspecimens，highandlow，oftheEnglishrace。
ButsomethingIdidreply，totheeffectthatIaskednobodytoconsiderEnglandflawless，oranynationacharitableinstitution，butmerelytobefair，andtoconsideracordialunderstandingbetweenusgreatlytoourfutureadvantage。Tothisheanswered，inpart，asfollows:
"Iwishtothankyouforyourkindlyreply……YourargumentisthatasamatterofpolicyweshouldconciliateGreatBritain。Havewefallensolow，thisgreatandpowerfulnation?……Trucklingtosomeotherpowerbecauseitsbacking，moralorphysical，maysomedaybeofusetous，eventho'weknowthatinsodoingwearesurrenderingourdearestrights，principles，anddignity!……Oh!mydearSir，yousurelydonotadvocatethis?Iincloseaneditorialclipping……IsitnoshocktoyouwhenWinstonChurchillshoutstoHighHeaventhatundernocircumstanceswillGreatBritainsurrenderitssupremecontroloftheseas?ThisinreplytoPresidentWilson'spleaforfreedomoftheseasandcurtailmentofarmaments……Butasyousee，ourPresidentandourMr。Danielshavealreadysaid，'Verywell，wewilloutbuildyou。'NeveragainshallGreatBritainstopourmailshipsandsearchourprivatemails。AlreadyhasEnglanddeclaredanembargoagainstourexportsinmanyessentiallinesandalreadyareweexpressingourdissatisfactionandtakingmeanstoretaliate"
Oftheeditorialclippinginclosedwiththeabove，thefollowingisapart:
"JohnBullisourassociateinthecontestwiththeKaiser。Thereisnodoubtastohispositiononthatproposition。HewentaftertheDutchingreatshape。NexttoFranceheledthewayandsaid，'Comeon，Yanks；weneedyourhelp。Wewillputyouinthefirstlineoftrencheswheretherewillbegoodgunning。Yes，wewilldoallofthatandatthesametimewewillborrowyourmoney，raisedbyLibertyLoans，anduseitforthepurchaseofAmericanwheat，pork，andbeef。'
"Mr。Bullkepthisword。Heneverflinchedorattemptedtododgetheissue。Hekeptstrictlyinthemiddleoftheroad。HisdeterminationtodowntheKaiserwithAmericanmen，Americanmoney，andAmericanfoodneverabatedforasingledayduringtheconflict。"
Thiseditorialhasmanytwinsthroughoutthecountry。Iquoteitforitsvalueasaspecimenofthatsortofjournalisticandpoliticalutteranceamongstus，whichisasseriouslyembarrassedbyfactsasaskunkbyitstail。Haditsauthorsaid:"TheDeclarationofIndependencewassignedbyChristopherColumbusonWashington'sbirthdayduringthesiegeofVicksburginthepresenceofQueenElizabethandJudasIscariot，"hisstatementwouldhavebeenequallyveracious，andmorestriking。
AstoWinstonChurchill'sdeclarationthatGreatBritainwillnotsurrenderhercontroloftheseas，IamaslittleshockedbythatasI
shouldbewereourSecretaryoftheNavytodeclarethatinnocircumstanceswouldwegiveupcontrolofthePanamaCanal。ThePanamaCanalisourcarotidartery，GreatBritain'snavyisherjugularvein。Itisherjugularveininthemindofherpeople，regardlessofthatnewapparition，thesubmarine。IwasnotshockedthatGreatBritainshoulddeclineMr。Wilson'sinvitationthatshecutherjugularvein；itwastheinvitationwhichkindledmyemotions；butthesewereofalessseriouskind。
ThelastletterthatIshallgiveisfromanAmericancitizenofEnglishbirth。
"AsaboyatschoolinEngland，IwastaughtthehistoryoftheAmericanRevolutionasJ。R。GreenpresentsitinhisShortHistoryoftheEnglishPeople。Thegistofthisrecord，asyoudoubtlessrecollect，isthatGeorgeIIIbeingengagedintheattempttodestroywhattherethenwasofpoliticalfreedomandrepresentativegovernmentinEngland，usedtheAmericansituationasameanstothatend；thattheEnglishpeople，insofarastheirvoicecouldmakeitselfheard，weresolidlyagainstbothhisEnglishandAmericanpolicy，andthatthetriumphofAmericacontributedinnosmallmeasuretothesalvationofthoseinstitutionsbywhichtheevolutionofEnglandtowardscompletedemocracywasmadepossible。
WashingtonwashelduptousinEnglandnotmerelyasagreatandgoodman，butasanheroicleader，towhosecourageandwisdomtheEnglishaswellastheAmericanpeoplewereeternallyindebted……
"Prayforgivesolongaletterfromastranger。Itisprompted……byasenseoftheillimitableimportance，notonlyforAmericaandBritain，butfortheentireworld，ofthesetwogreatdemocraticpeoplesknowingeachotherastheyreallyareandcooperatingasonlytheycancooperatetoestablishandmaintainpeaceonjustandpermanentfoundations。"
ChapterIII:InFrontofaBulletinBoardThere，then，aretenlettersofthefiftywhichcametomeinconsequenceofwhatIwroteinMay，1918，whichwaspublishedintheAmericanMagazineforthefollowingNovember。Tenwilldo。Toreadtheotherfortywouldchangenoimpressionconveyedalreadybytheten，butwouldmerelyrepeatit。WithvaryingphraseologytheirwriterseitherthinkwehavehithertomisjudgedEnglandandthatmyfactsaretothepoint，ortheyexpressthestereotypedAmericanantipathytoEnglandandtreatmyfactsaswemortalsmostlydowhenfactsareembarrassing——side-stepthem。
Whatbestpleasedmewastofindthatsoldiersandsailorsagreedwithme，andnot"high-brows"only。
May，1918，asyouwillremember，wasaverydarkhour。Wehadcomeintothewar，hadbeeninforayear；buteventshadnotyettakenusoutofthewell-nightotaleclipseflunguponourcharacterbythoseblightingwords，"thereissuchathingasbeingtooproudtofight。"TheBritishhadbeentoldbytheirGeneralthattheywerefightingwiththeirbackstothewall。SinceMarch23rdthetreadoftheHunhadbeencomingsteadilynearertoParis。BelleauWoodandChateau-ThierryhadnotyetstruckthetrueringfromourmetalandputintothehandsofFochtheonefurtherweaponthatheneeded。Frenchmoralewasburningverylowandblue。Yeteveninsuchanhour，peopleapparentlyAmericanandapparentlygrownup，weretalkingagainstEngland，ourally。Thenandthereafter，evenasto-day，theytalkedagainstherastheyhadbeentalkingsinceAugust，1914，asIhadheardthemagainandagain，indoorsandout，asI
heardamanoneforenooninacrowdduringtheearlieryearsofthewar，themiserableyearsbeforewewakedfromourtranceofneutrality，whileourchosenleaderswerestillmisleadingus。
Doyourememberthoseunearthlyyears?Theexplosions，theplots，thespies，theLucitania，thenotes，Mr。Bryan，vonBernstorff，halfourcountry——oh，morethanhalf!——indifferentorincredulous，nothingprepared，nothingdone，nosteptaken，TheodoreRoosevelt'sandLeonardWood'salmosttheonlyvoiceswarninguswhatwasboundtohappen，andtogetreadyforit?Doyourememberthebulletinboards?Didyougrow，asI
did，sorestlessthatyouwouldstepoutofyourofficetoseeifanythingnewhadhappenedduringthelastsixtyminutes——wouldstopasyouwenttolunchandstopasyoucameback?Weknewfromthefacesofourfriendswhatourownfaceswerelike。Incompanywepumpedupliveliness，butinthestreet，alonewithourapprehensions——doyouremember?Forourfuture'ssakemayeverybodyremember，maynobodyforget!
Whatthenewswasuponacertainforenoonmemorabletome，Idonotrecall，andthisisofnoconsequence；goodorbad，thestreamofby-
passersclottedthicklytoreaditasthemanchalkeditlineuponlineacrossthebulletinboard。Citizenswhowereinhastesteppedoffthecurbtopassroundsincetheycouldnotpassthroughthiscrowdofgazers。Thusthisonthesidewalkstoodsomefiftyofus，staringatnameswehadneverknownuntilalittlewhileago，Bethincourt，Malancourt，perhaps，orMontfaucon，orRoisel；Frenchnamesofsmallplaces，amongwhosecrumbled，featurelessdustIhavewalkedsince，wherelivedpeacefullyafewhundredorafewthousandthatarenowathousandbutcheredorbroken-hearted。ThroughmeranonceagainthewonderthathadoftenchilledmesincetheabdicationoftheCzarwhichmadecertainthecrumblingofRussia:afterFrance，wasourturncoming?Shouldourfields，too，besownwithbones，shouldourlittletownsamongtheorchardsandthecornfallinashesamongstwhichbrokenheartswouldwanderinsearchofsomesurvivingstickofproperty?IhadlearnedtoknowthatalongwhilebeforethewartheeyesoftheHun，thebirdofprey，hadbeenfixeduponusasajuicymorsel。Hehadwrittenit，hehadsaidit。SinceAugust，1914，thesePan-Germanschemeshadbeenleakingoutforallwhochosetounderstandthem。Agreatmanydidnotsochoose。
TheHunhadwantedusandplannedtogetus，andnowmorethaneverbefore，becauseheintendedthatweshouldpayhiswarbills。LethimoncegetbyEngland，andhisswordwouldcutthroughourfat，defenselesscarcasslikeaknifethroughcheese。
Avoicearrestedmyreverie，avoiceclosebyinthecrowd。Itsaid，"Well，IliketheFrench。ButI'llnotcrymuchifEnglandgetshers。
What'sEnglanddoneinthiswar，anyway?"
"Herfleet'skeepingtheKaiseroutofyourfrontyard，foronething，"
retortedanothervoice。
Withassuranceslightlywobblingandatouchofthenasalwhine，thefirstspeakerprotested，"Well，lookwhatGeorgeIIIdonetous。BadasanyKaiser。"
"Aw，getyourfactsstraight!"Itwassaidwithscornfulforce。"Don'tyouknowGeorgeIIIwasaGerman?Don'tyouknowitwasHessians——
they'reGermans——hehiredtocomeoverhereandkillAmericansanddohisdirtyworkforhim?AndhisGermansdidthesamedirtyworktheKaiser'saredoingnow。We'vegotaletterwrittenafterthebattleofLongIslandbyamemberofourfamilytheytookprisonerthere。Andtheystrippedhimandtheystolehisthingsandtheybeathimdownwiththebuttsoftheirguns——afterhehadsurrendered，mind——whenhewassurrenderedandnaked，andwhenhewasdowntheybeathimsomemore。That'sGermansforyou。
Onlythey'vebeengettingworsewhiletherestoftheworld'sbeengettingbetter。Getyourfactsstraight，man。"
Anumberofuswerenowlisteningtothis，andIenviedthehistorianhisingeniouspromptness——Ihavenone——andIhopedformoreofthistimelydebate。Butdebatewasover。Theanti-Englishmanfadedtosilence。Eitherhewasoutoffactstogetstraight，orlackedwhatissopithilytermed"come-back。"Thelatter，Iinclinetothink；forcome-backneedsnofacts，itisaself-feeder，anditsentireabsenceintheanti-EnglishmanlooksasifhehadbeenaGerman。Germansdonotcomebackwhenitgoesagainstthem，theybleat"Kamerad!"——ordisappear。Perhapsthismanwasaspy——apoorone，tobesure——yetdoinghisbestforhisKaiser:slinkingabout，peeping，listening，tryingtowedgetheAlliesapart，doinghislittlebittowardsmakingfriendsenemies，justashisbreedhasworkedtosetenmitybetweenourselvesandJapan，ourselvesandMexico，FranceandEngland，FranceandItaly，EnglandandRussia，betweeneverybodyandeverybodyelsealltheworldover，inthesacrednameandforthesacredsakeoftheKaiser。Thushashisbreed，sinceweoccupiedCoblenz，runtotheFrenchsoldierswithliesaboutusandthenruntouswithliesabouttheFrenchsoldiers，overlookinginitsprovidentialstupiditythefactthatweandtheFrenchwouldinevitablycomparenotes。Thustooishisbreed，atthemomentIwritethesewords，infestingandpoisoningtheearthwithapropagandathatremainsascoherentandassystematicallydirectedaseveritwasbeforethepapersbegantoassureusthattherewasnothingleftoftheHohenzollerngovernment。
ChapterIV:"MyArmyofSpies"
"Youwilldesiretoknow，"saidtheKaisertohiscouncilatPotsdaminJune，1908，afterthesuccessfultestingofthefirstZeppelin，"howthehostilitieswillbebroughtabout。MyarmyofspiesscatteredoverGreatBritainandFrance，asitisoverNorthandSouthAmerica，willtakegoodcareofthat。EvennowIrulesupremeintheUnitedStates，wherethreemillionvotersdomybiddingatthePresidentialelections。"
Yes，theydidhisbidding；there，andelsewheretoo。Theydiditatotherelectionsaswell。DoyourememberthemayortheytriedtoelectinChicago?andcertainmembersofCongress?andcertainmanufacturersandbankers?Theydidhisbiddinginournewspapers，ourpublicschools，andfromthepulpit。CertainlocalitiesinoneoftherivercountiesofIowaforinstancewerespotsofGermantreasontotheUnitedStates。The"exchangeprofessors"thatcamefromBerlintoHarvardandotheruniversitiesweresomanycamouflagedspies。CertainprominentAmericancitizens，dinedandwinedandflatteredbytheKaiserforhispurpose，womenaswellasmen，camebackheremereKaiser-puppets，hypnotizedbyroyalty。Hisbiddingwasdoneinasmanywaysaswouldfillabook。
Shopkeepersdidit，servantsdidit，Americansamongusweredecoratedbyhimfordoingit。EvenaftertheArmistice，aschooltextbook"gotby"
theBoardofEducationinawesternstate，whereinourboysandgirlsweretobetaughtaGermanversion——aKaiserversion——ofGermany。
Somebodyprotested，andtheboardexplainedthatit"hadn'tnoticed，"andthebookwasheldup。
Wecannot，Ifear，ordertheschoolhistoriesinGermanytobeeditedbytheAllies。Germanschoolchildrenwillgrowupbelieving，inallprob-
ability，thatbombsweredroppednearNurnberginJuly，1914，thatGermansoilwasinvaded，thattheFatherlandfoughtawarofdefense；theywillcertainlybenourishedbyliesinthefutureastheywerenourishedbyliesinthepast。ButwecanpreventGermansorpro-Germanswritingourownschoolhistories；wecanpreventthat"armyofspies"ofwhichtheKaiserboastedtohiscouncilatPotsdaminJune，1908，fromcontinuingitsactivitiesamongusnowandhenceforth；andwecanpreventourschooltextbooksfromplayingintoGermany'shandbyteachinghateofEnglandtoourboysandgirls。Besidethesickeningsillinesswhichstillasks，"WhathasEnglanddoneinthewar?"isasillinessstillmoresickeningwhichsays，"Germanyisbeaten。Letusforgiveandforget。"ThatisnotChristianity。ThereisnothingChristianaboutit。Itismerelysentimentalslush，sloppyshirkingofanythingthatcompelsnationalalertness，oreffort，orself-discipline，orself-denial；amoralcowardicethatpushesawayanyfactwhichdisturbsashallow，torpid，irresponsible，self-indulgentoptimism。
Ourgoldenageofisolationisover。Toattempttoreturntoitwouldbeamereperniciousday-dream。ToharkbacktoWashington'swarningagainstentanglingalliancesisassensibleastogobyamapoftheworldmadein1796。Wearecoupledtothecompanyofnationslikeacarinthemiddleofatrain，onlymoreinevitablyandpermanently，forwecannotuncouple；andifwetriedtodoso，wemightnotwreckthetrain，butweshouldassuredlywreckourselves。Ithinkthewarhasbroughtusonebenefitcertainly:thatmanyyoungmenreturnfromEuropeknowingthis，whohadnoideaofitbeforetheywent，andwhoknowalsothatGermanyisatheartanuntamed，unchangedwildbeast，nevertobetrustedagain。Wemustnot，andshallnot，boycottherintrade；butletusnotgotosleepattheswitch!JustasbusilyassheisbakingpotteryoppositeCoblenz，labelled"madeinSt。Louis，""madeinKansasCity，"her"armyofspies"
isatworkhereandeverywheretounderminethosenationswhohaveforthemomentdelayedherplansforworlddominion。IthinkthenumberofAmericanswhoknowthishasincreased；butnoAmerican，whereverhelives，needtravelfarfromhometomeetfellowAmericanswhosingthesongofslushaboutforgivingandforgetting。
PerhapsthemanIheardtalkinginfrontofthebulletinboardwasoneofthe"armyofspies，"asIliketoinferfromhisabsenceof"come-back。"
ButperhapshewasmerelyaninnocentAmericanwhoatschoolhadstudied，forinstance，Eggleston'shistory；thoughtless——butbynomeansharmless；forhisschool-taught"slant"againstEngland，inthedayswewerelivingthroughthen，amountedtoa"slant"forGermany。HewouldbesorryifGermanybeatFrance，butnotifshebeatEngland——whenFranceandEnglandwerejoinedinkeepingthewolfnotonlyfromtheirdoorbutfromours!Itmattersnotintheleastthattheywerefightingourbattle，notbecausetheywantedto，butbecausetheycouldn'thelpit:
theywerefightingitjustthesame。Thattheywerecompelleddoesn'tmatter，anymorethanitmattersthatingoingtowarwhenBelgiumwasinvaded，England'sdutyandEngland'sself-interesthappenedtocoincide。
OurdutyandourinterestalsocoincidedwhenweenteredthewarandjoinedEnglandandFrance。Haveweseemedtothinkthatthisdiminishedourglory?Havetheyseemedtothinkthatitabsolvedthemfromgratitude?
Suchtalkasthatman'sinfrontofthebulletinboardhelpedGermanythen，whetherhemeanttoornot，justasmuchasifaspyhadsaidit——
justasmuchassimilartalkagainstEnglandto-day，whetherbyspiesorunheedingAmericans，helpstheGermanyofto-morrow。TheGermanyofyesterdayhadherspiesalloverFranceandItaly，busilysuggestingtorusticuninformedpeasantsthatwehadgonetoFranceforconquestofFrance，andintendedtokeepsomeofherland。Whatisshetellingthemnow?Idon'tknow。Somethingtoheradvantageandtheirdisadvantage，youmaybesure，justassheisbusysuggestingtousthingstoheradvantageandourdisadvantage——jealousyandfearoftheBritishnavy，orpro-Germanschoolhistoriesforourchildren，orthatwecan'tmakedyes，orwhateveryouplease:theonlysurethingis，thattheGermanyofyesterdayistheGermanyofto-morrow。Sheisnotchanged。Shewillnotchange。Thesteadystreamofherpropagandaallovertheworldprovesit。
Nomatterhowoftenhermasqueradinggovernmentchangescostumes，thatcostumeismerelyherdevicetoconcealthesamecunning，treacherouswildbeastthatin1914，afterfortyyearsofpreparation，sprangatthethroatoftheworld。Ofallthenationsinthelatewar，shealoneispullingherselftogether。Sheishardatwork。Shemeanstospringagainjustassoonasshecan。
DidyoureadtheletterwritteninAprilof1919byherVice-Chancellor，MathiasErzberger，alsoherministeroffinance?Averyable，compactmasterpieceofmalignantvoracity，goodenoughtodocredittoSatan。
ThroughthatluckyflawofstupiditywhichrunsthroughapparentlyeveryGermanbrain，andtowhichwechieflyoweourvictoryandtemporaryrespitefromthefangsofthewolf，MathiasErzbergerpostedhisletter。
Itwentwronginthemails。Ifyoudesiretoreadthewholeofit，theInternationalNewsBureaucaneitherfurnishitorputyouonthetrackofit。Onesentencefromitshallbequotedhere:
"WewillundertaketherestorationofRussia，andinpossessionofsuchsupportwillbeready，withintenorfifteenyears，tobringFrance，withoutanydifficulty，intoourpower。ThemarchtowardsPariswillbeeasierthanin1914。Thelaststepbutonetowardstheworlddominionwillthenbereached。Thecontinentisours。Afterwardswillfollowthelaststage，theclosingstruggle，betweenthecontinentandtheover-