CHAPTER XIX 



REASONABLE CONCLUSIONS 



IN the face of these and many other obsta- 

 cles, fighting incessantly for its life, the 

 League continued to make progress, to extend 

 itself steadily and to enroll new members. I 

 think that all fair-minded men, if familiar 

 with American politics and American psy- 

 chology, will admit that this is the most note- 

 worthy fact about it. Public opinion is more 

 potent in America than in any other country 

 on earth; public opinion here is the absolute 

 monarch of all public and most private ac- 

 tion. One might say that all the expressions 

 and organs of public opinion were against 

 the League. The greater part of the press 

 had been engaged for four years in show- 

 ing to the world the League's evil principles 

 and depraved control. In serious argument, 

 in fervent appeal, in limitless jokes, burning 

 sarcasm, and the best cartoons, it had been 

 bombarded and ridiculed. Eloquent speakers 

 had toured the Northwest exposing the deadly 

 peril of the new doctrines. In all the cities 



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