Governments—today under capitalism—are composed of “leading citizens.” These “leading-citizen” governments quarrel over business—markets and territory. Being proud, these “leading-citizen” governments pompously decide to “protect their honor”—their alleged honor—“at _any_ cost.” Lacking sufficient brains, they can not settle their quarrel with brains. Reverting to savagery, they decide that “might makes right.” Being brutal, they decide to “fight it out.” Being cowards, they decide to avoid personal danger—to themselves. Knowing the working class are gullibly useable, these “leading-citizen” governments decide to use the _workingmen_ as fists. Being crafty, they decide to _seize the brain_ of the toiler—to _teach_ the working class: To follow the flag—automatically—that is, patriotically To follow the flag—blindly—tho’ “leading citizens” do _not_ follow the flag into bloody danger To follow the flag—blindly—cheered by silk-hatted cowards To follow the flag—blindly—_no matter where it goes, no matter how unjust the war may be_ To follow the flag—blindly—tho’ the working class fighters are to be given no voice in declaring the war To follow the flag—“patriotically”—like slaves defending masters who buy and sell them as chattels—“patriotically”—like ancient serfs defending the very landlords who robbed the serfs, insulted their wives and raped their daughters To follow the flag—brainlessly—like dumb cattle following a “trick” bull to the bloody shambles of the slaughter house To follow the flag, brainlessly, as a frog will swallow a bait of red calico loaded with a deadly fish-hook To follow the flag, automatically, to the horrors and hell of the firing line—automatically, to the flaming cannon’s mouth and there butcher other workingmen and be butchered by other workingmen who are also—automatically—following another flag—like fools used as fists for cowards. And the leading citizens have indeed succeeded in doing what they decided to do. They have had us taught disastrously. Patriotically we have worn the yoke throughout the centuries—centuries sad with tears and red with blood and fire. Patriotically for thousands of years we have stormed the world with the cannon’s roar—but never won a real victory for _our_ class. And for a hundred years—when we could vote—we have stupidly followed the political crook to the ballot-box, and then we have meekly teased for laws, whined for relief, and humbly coaxed the “reformer.” Gullibly we swallow the traducer’s lies that paralyze our brains, bind our wrists, and lay us under the employer’s lash. Deafened and stunned with a fool’s “hurrah,” we wade in our own blood while those we love are broken in the embrace of despair.