“’That’s wan point. They’s another, mong colonel. Ye’re all afraid. That’s th’ truth iv th’ matther. Ye’re like a lot iv ol’ women that thinks ivry time th’ shutter creaks burglars is goin’ to break into th’ house. Ye’re afraid iv Rothscheeld, an’ th’ Impror iv Germany, an’ th’ Dook d’Orleans, Vik Bonaparte, an’ Joe Chamberlain, an’ Bill McKinley. Be hivins, I believe ye’re even afraid iv Gin’ral Otis! Ye’re afraid iv th’ newspapers, ye’re afraid iv Jools Guerin, ye’re afraid iv a pote, even whin he is not ar-rmed with his pothry, an’ ye’re afraid iv each other. Brace up! be men! If I was a Fr-rinchman, I’d be afraid iv no man but th’ cab-dhrivers; an’ I wudden’t be afraid iv thim long, f’r I’d be a cab-dhriver mesilf.
“‘Wan thing more, an’ thin me tistimony’s over. Ye want me advice. Ye didn’t ask f’r it. If I was prisident iv this coort-martial, I’d say to Cap Dhryfuss: “Cap, get out. Ye may not be a thraitor, but ye’re worse. Ye’re become a bore.” An’ I’d give him money enough to lave th’ counthry. Thin I’d sind th’ gin’ral staff off to some quiet counthry village where they’d be free fr’m rumors iv war, an’ have nawthin’ else to do but set around in rockin’-chairs an’ play with th’ cat. Thin I’d cut th’ cable to England; an’ thin I’d gather all the journalists iv Paris together, an’ I’d say, “Gintlemen,” I’d say, “th’ press is th’ palajeem iv our liberties,” I’d say; “but our liberties no longer requires a palajeem,” I’d say. “This wan, whativer it means, is frayed at th’ risbands, an’ th’ buttonholes is broken, annyhow,” I’d say. “I’ve bought all iv ye tickets to Johannisberg,” I’d say, “an’ ye’ll be shipped there tonight,”