A national tradition has been established which prevents individuals from desiring freedom; and if they should desire and obtain it, they are prevented from using it.

The freedom of American speech and thought has not been essentially different from the freedom of speech which a group of prisoners might enjoy during the term of their imprisonment.

The prisoners could, of course, think and talk much as they pleased, but there was nobody but themselves to hear; and in the absence both of an adequate material, discipline, and audience, both the words and thoughts were without avail.

The truth is, of course, that intellectual individuality and independence were sacrificed for the benefit of social homogeneity and the quickest possible development of American economic opportunities; and in this way a vital relation has been established for Americans between the assertion of intellectual independence or moral individuality and the adoption of a nationalized economic and political system.
During the Middle Period American individual intelligence did, indeed, struggle gallantly to attain freedom.

The intellectual ferment at that time was more active and more general than it is to-day.