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，haveusedtheirsensibleindependentAmericanbrains(ourverybestcharacteristic)，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，butthatevensoitdidnotinmyopinionoutweighthereasonsIhadgiven(andshallnowgivemoreabundantly)infavorofdroppingourhostilefeelingtowardEngland。
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。ButofwhatpracticalavailarethesethingswhenamansohighlyplacedasthepresentSecretaryoftheNavyasksaBostonaudience(TremontTemple，October30，1918)tobelievethatitwastheAmericannavywhichmadepossiblethetransportationofover2，000，000AmericanstoFrancewithoutthelossofasingletransportonthewayover?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。TheConfederateCommissioners(Iknowyouwillsaywewerewrongthere——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。CertainlocalitiesinoneoftherivercountiesofIowa(forinstance)werespotsofGermantreasontotheUnitedStates。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-
