“That’s fair,” corroborated the Boot & Shoe Surgeon.
“Mind you,” continued the Socialist, pursuing his favorite path of self-explication; “I would n’t ha’ printed your story, either. It was a fool story. Ain’t the Germans just as good as we are? Better ’n a lot of us. They believe in the rights o’ men, they do. None of your dirty aristocratic notions about them. Look at Germany! Most Socialistic country in the world to-day. Most civilized, too.”
“Let ’em stay in their own country, then,” said Eli Wade. “We don’t want ’em.”
“Ah, but we do! We need ’em to help on the Social Revolution.”
“My folks fit in one American Revolution,” said the
Doctor stoutly. “I don’t reckon none of us is going to fight in another led by Germans and crazy folks.”
“You’ll come around,” laughed Milliken. “You’ll live to be ashamed of that silly motto in your window. Take it out! Take it out, Eli Wade, and put the Red Flag of World-Brotherhood in its place.”
“Above the American flag, mebbe?”
“Along with it. My stock’s as good Yankee as yours, Eli. But I’m ready to fight again for libutty, and you ain’t. You read too much in the capitalistic press. Some day you’ll be reading this young feller’s editorials, all about the rights o’ capital and what the laboring man owes to his employer.”
“You will not,” said Jeremy.