“ He calls attention anew to the fact, which has been called attention to before, that we are the “chartered libertine” of civilized nations, and are permitted to do things which would not be permitted to any other power. A good many of us have been in the habit of attributing our immunity to the fact that nobody expects civilized manners of us. ”

“ Schurz gives a more substantial explanation, which is in effect that no foreign nation has anything to gain by fighting us. It is true that there has been, and is now, nothing to prevent any strong naval power from taking possession of our chief seaports, and holding them to ransom, but that would partake too much of the nature of piracy to be in accordance with the spirit of the age. ”

“ Germany might be moved to such an enterprise, being, although in most respects a modern country, ruled by a mediaeval monarch. But in general we are safe from being held to account for our procedures in that there is, nationally speaking, nothing to be gained by fighting us. ”