ency is to make our country greater and stronger. The West
Indian Islands ought to be ours, and some day our flag will float
there. This country must not stop growing.

_Question_. Is the spirit of patriotism declining in America?

_Answer_. There has been no decline in the spirit of American
patriotism; in fact, it has increased rather then otherwise as the
nation has grown older, stronger, more prosperous, more glorious.
If there were occasion to demonstrate the truth of this statement
it would be quickly demonstrated. Let an attack be made upon the
American flag, and you will very quickly find out how genuine is
the patriotic spirit of Americans.

I do not think either that there has been a decline in the celebration
of the Fourth of July. The day is probably not celebrated with as
much burning of gunpowder and shooting of fire crackers in the
large cities as formerly, but it is celebrated with as much enthusiasm
as ever all through the West, and the feeling of rejoicing over
the anniversary of the day is as great and strong as ever. The
people are tired of celebrating with a great noise and I am glad
of it.

_Question_. What do you think of the Congress of Religions, to be
held in Chicago during the World's Fair?

_Answer_. It will do good, if they will honestly compare their
creeds so that each one can see just how foolish all the rest are.
They ought to compare their sacred books, and their miracles, and
their mythologies, and if they do so they will probably see that
ignorance is the mother of them all. Let them have a Congress, by
all means, and let them show how priests live on the labor of those
they deceive. It will do good.

_Question_. Do you think that Cleveland's course as to appointments
has strengthened him with the people?

_Answer_. Patronage is a two-edged sword with very little handle.
It takes an exceedingly clever President to strengthen himself by
its exercise. When a man is running for President the twenty men
in every town who expect to be made postmaster are for him heart
and soul. Only one can get the office, and the nineteen who do
not, feel outraged, and the lucky one is mad on account of the
delay. So twenty friends are lost with one place.

_Question_. Is the Age of Chivalry dead?

_Answer_. The "Age of Chivalry" never existed except in the
imagination. The Age of Chivalry was the age of cowardice and
crime.

There is more chivalry to-day than ever. Men h