Page:Harris Dickson--The unpopular history of the United States.djvu/74

 wheel unless we are backed up by public sentiment. It’s the public sentiment of the country which makes Congress act. That’s why I am so anxious to have all the country folks and all the city folks know exactly where we stand. There’s no forty-seven different ways about what we’ve got to do. Do you suppose I’m talking to you just to hear my tongue rattle? No, siree. I’m busier than a bumblebee in a bucket of tar, but can’t accomplish a thing unless the people get busy, too. Our folks have got plenty of sense if we can just make them dive down in their think-tanks and use it.

It’s as plain as the nose on your face what we should have learned from the Revolution:

First: That nearly all the dangers that threatened the cause of independence may be traced to the total inexperience of our statesmen in regard to military affairs, which led to vital mistakes in army legislation.

Second: That, for waging war, a Confederation is the weakest of all governments.

Third: That neither voluntary enlistments