bred here
periodically for about another thousand years. The devil of this
state of things is that they may not always be able to keep their
wars at home.

For me, then, except England and the smaller exceptions that I have
mentioned, Europe will cut no big figure in my life. In all the
humanities, we are a thousand years ahead of any people here. So
also in the adaptabilities and the conveniences of life, in its
versatilities and in its enjoyments. Most folk are stolid and sad
or dull on this side of the world. Else how could they take their
kings and silly ceremonies seriously?

Now to more immediate and definite impressions. I have for a year
had the conviction that we ought to get into the war--into the
economic war--for the following among many reasons.

1. That's the only way to shorten it. We could cause Germany's
credit (such as she has) instantly to collapse, and we could hasten
her hard times at home which would induce a surrender.

2. That's the only way we can have any real or important influence
in adjusting whatever arrangements can be made to secure peace.

3. That's the best way we can inspire complete respect for us in
the minds of other nations and thereby, perhaps, save ourselves
from some wars in the future.

4. That's the best way we can assert our own character--our
Americanism, and forever get rid of all kinds of hyphens.

5. That's the only way we shall ever get a real and sensible
preparedness, which will be of enormous educational value even if
no military use should ever be made of our preparation.

6. That's the only way American consciousness will ever get back to
the self-sacrificing and patriotic point of view of the Fathers of
the Republic.

7. That's the best way to emancipate ourselves from cranks.

8. That's the only way we'll ever awaken in our whole people a
foreign consciousness that will enable us to assert our natural
influence in the world--political, financial, social,
commercial--the best way to make the rest of the world our
customers and friends and followers.

All the foregoing I have fired at the Great White Chief for a year
by telegraph and by mail; and I have never fired it anywhere else
till now. Be very quiet, then. No man with whom I have talked or
whose writings