“The best dykes have machine guns behind them, not orators,” he said bluntly.
“My friend, I have seen that, also. And to what have machine guns led us in Petrograd, in Moscow, in Poland, Finland, Courland––” She shrugged her pretty shoulders. “No. I have seen enough blood.”
He said: “I have seen a little myself.”
“Yes, I know. But a soldier is always a soldier, as a hound is always a hound. The blood of the quarry is what their instinct follows. Your goal is death; we only seek to tame.”
“The proper way to check Bolshevism in America is to police the country properly, and kick out the outrageous gang of domestic Bolsheviki who have exploited us, tricked us, lied to us, taxed us unfairly, and in spite of whom we have managed to help our allies win this war.
“Then, when this petty, wretched, crooked bunch has been swept out, and the nation aired and disinfected, and when the burden of taxation is properly distributed, and business dares lift its head again, then start your debates and propaganda and try to educate your enemies if you like. But keep your machine guns oiled.”
“You speak in an uncomplimentary fashion of government,” said the girl, smiling.
“I am all for government. That does not mean that I am for the particular incumbents in office under the present Government. I have no use for them. 256 Know that this war was won, not through them but in spite of them.
“Yet I place loyalty first of all––loyalty to the true ideals of that Government which some of the present incumbents so grotesquely misrepresent.
“That means, stand by the ship and the flag she flies, no matter who steers or what crew capers about her decks.