had not met a single person who did not privately curse this war.
Now, I venture this prophecy: We may expect our Navy some time to annihilate the Spanish fleet in the West Indies. The Powers will then probably exercise a strong pressure on Spain to induce her to make an end of it by offering us the independence of Cuba and perhaps some war indemnity. Spain is not unlikely to do this. If then, the Administration, instead of treating upon that basis, prolongs the war for the purpose of securing some territorial conquest, the Democrats will no doubt be clever enough to take advantage of the peace sentiment of the country, and, Bryanism and all that notwithstanding, they will overwhelm the Republicans at the polls on the issue of “Free Cuba and peace” as against “More war for conquest.”
To this prediction I will add another. The longer you hesitate to make an end of the imperialistic noise by keeping before the public by constant and emphatic assertion the original announcement that this is a war for the independence of Cuba, which cannot honorably be turned into a war of conquest, the more difficult you will find it to do the right thing for the country and to guide and save the Republican party when the opportunity for peace comes.
Pardon me for intruding so much upon your attention. This is so grave a crisis that my anxiety for the future of the Republic would not suffer me to be silent.
Let me congratulate you upon the appointment of Mr. Oscar Straus. It is a fine thing.
TO PRESIDENT McKINLEY
I read in a newspaper that you would like to hear from your friends about what they think of conditions of peace to be imposed on Spain. I beg leave to respond.
