'LAW-ABIDINGNESS' IN THE SOUTH-WEST 231 



opinion of the majority which democracy 

 fosters, renders the storm of detraction and 

 calumny all the more difficult to endure, 

 makes it, indeed, so intolerable to many 

 citizens that they will conceal or modify their 

 opinions rather than endure it.' 



In the face of this assertion, the private 

 citizen of the United States exhibits in argu- 

 ment a toleration, a courtesy, which his 

 British contemporary would do well to imi- 

 tate ; and the American people as a whole 

 stand easily ahead of other civilized nations 

 in a good-natured optimism, and a rooted 

 dislike to grumbling, occasionally carried to 

 excess. In the mass, however, it presents 

 but little resistance to any strong wave of 

 emotion especially if this wave be started by 

 misplaced compassion, and fostered by the 

 proverbial recklessness and irresponsibility 

 of the daily press. 



To say that the worshippers of Freedom 

 have created some of the worst forms of 

 slavery is but to repeat a truism. The pages 

 of American history are darkened by deeds 

 which may well come under the head of 

 oppression. The Indian, nay, the Chinaman 



