"What have you to ask?"
"Why do you oppose the war?"
"Why should I favor it?"
"Don't the government promise protection to its citizens? Is not the
blissed stars and stripes insulted by the British? Have not they set the
murdherin' haythin to killin' innocent women and children on the
frontier, and have they surrendered the posts as they should?"
Mr. Crane, with one wave of his hand, swept away every objection.
"That is all nothing!" he cried.
"Nothing! howly mother, sir! do you call it nothing for Americans to be
knocked down, carried aboard British ships, to be made slaves, to be
flogged until they die, and shot if they object?"
"Oh, those are all senseless, sensational stories, told for effect."
"But I say they are true. I have jist returned from nearly four years
service on a British man-o-war."
"But, sir, we must look to the welfare of our country. What are the
lives of a few sailors--common fellows--compared to the rich commerce
we enjoy with England? The wealthy men of New England would surely be
ruined by war."
"Ye blackguard! do ye set up the riches of New England against the life
of men because they are poor?"
"Certainly," answered Mr. Crane, taking a cigar from his case, lighting
it and proceeding to smoke. "What do Drake and Smoot, whom I represent,
care for sailors like yourself? Why, if England wants such wretches, let
her have them.
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