“A little. All of one kind.” “Pointing toward war?” “War,” said the editor gravely. “There must be some way out!” The Governor lost himself in a maze of thought. “This is a terrible thing!” he muttered bitterly. “It was bound to come.” “A terrible thing,” repeated Embree, “for me.” “For you?” Jem stared, startled at the out-cropping of egotism. “For all of us,” hastily amended the other. “For the Nation.” “I’m not so sure. It may be that we needed it, to save us from ourselves.” “What is one to do? How is a man to tell what course he can safely take?” said the Governor, pursuing his own line of thought. “It is n’t exactly a time for Safety First, is it? There’s only one course for a decent American.” “That’s so like you,” fretted the other. “You see your own side and nothing else.” “What else do you see?” “I see this great State of Centralia which has chosen me for its chief official,” retorted Embree with a touch of that exaltation which, his enemies sneered, invariably crept into his speech when it dealt with his political self. “I see it torn and racked from end to end, and aflame with hatreds, dissension, and distrust. I see all the long fight that I’ve made--that we have made--against corporation control of the State gone for nothing in the new political issues. Have you thought of that?” “Yes.” “Well?” “It does n’t matter.” “Not matter!” “Not if we go to war. Nothing else matters then but ourselves and Germany. We’ve got to think of the country as a whole and of ourselves just as a part of it.” “Oh, I’m for the country!” proclaimed Embree. “Of course! But I’m not for this war if it can be avoided.” “It can’t be.” “Not by any such hot-headed, reckless course as The Guardian is laying. You’re doing everything but yell for war and the blood of your own neighbors.” Jeremy’s lip protruded obstinately. “Is that the view you take of it? We’ll do more to-morrow.” “For God’s sake, Jem! What has got into you? How can you commit yourself to such a policy of savagery?” “This is n’t going to be a polite war, Martin. But if I’m a savage, at least I’ll be an American savage; not a German savage. That’s all we’re committed to in The Guardian.” “That’s too much. It is n’t the time for it.” “Not when every national right has been violated?” “Forget your newspaper rhetoric and listen to common sense. Jem, will you be discreet for once in your editorial life?” “I doubt it.” “This is deadly serious. Listen: Congress is going to hear from the country. Appeals are going to be made--” “Which country?” asked Jeremy with intent. “Try to be reasonable about this,” pleaded his friend. “These appeals are going to pour in on Washington, to stop while there’s time.” “More German propaganda. You’ve answered my question.”