of Great Britain and Ireland, was the most original and comprehensive measure for counselling the doubtful that this country has ever seen. The informality of the scheme made it a pure delight. Governors of Wyoming and North Dakota, mayors of Milwaukee and Anaconda, clergymen and college professors, ladies and gentlemen of unimpeachable respectability and unascertainable information, all responded to the "Nation's" call, and placed their diplomacy at its disposal.
Pains were taken by Mr. Villard to convince the public that the object of the committee was to avert "the greatest calamity which could befall the civilized world"—a war between Great Britain and the United States, than which nothing seemed less likely. Its members disclaimed anything like "improper interference in the concerns of another nation." They evidently did not consider that summoning Ire-
