Page:Harris Dickson--The unpopular history of the United States.djvu/70

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The Unpopular History of the United States


who in perfect good order retired to their homes without a settlement of their accounts or a farthing of money in their pockets. What an absolutely convincing parallel! On the one hand the turbulent and rebellious spirit of the mob, utterly barren of results upon the battlefield, but ready to follow the dictates of passion and the mouthings of a demagogue. On the other hand, the self-restraint, the effective and competent conduct of the Continental regulars. Bear in mind, my son, keep bearing it in mind, never forget, that they were precisely the same individual men to begin with; they came from the same homes, the same families and the same blood. The only difference between them lay in their training. Let me say it again, we Americans pride ourselves upon our individualism. We love to do just as we darn please, and hate anybody to give us orders. This brand of inefficiency is part of the price we pay for democracy.

Someway or other, by the help of Providence and the French, in some kind of fash-

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