THE FOOD CRISIS AND AMERICANISM 89 



in the prosecution of the war. Because of it, weak 

 generals have been replaced by stronger ones; ineffi- 

 cient officials by abler men. One, who was among the 

 highest officials in the French nation, at the time war 

 was declared, is now in prison, awaiting trial for trea- 

 son. Few, if any, of these desirable results would 

 have been so speedily brought about had criticisms and 

 suggestions been throttled. Why should we not bene- 

 fit by their experience? 



No one is more heartily in favor of punishment, 

 swift and sure, for every one guilty of treason, than 

 I ; but that a self -constituted class of patriots are per- 

 mitted to assail any individual who disagrees with 

 them, any class that does not conform to their par- 

 ticular ideas of Government or personal conduct, is 

 not in keeping with the American spirit of liberty. 

 If the officers of our Government, high or low, ever 

 cease to be the servants, and become the masters, of 

 our people, the spirit of democracy will die within us. 



