the taking of such a plebiscite might be so formed as to avoid all Constitutional difficulties.
Will you be so kind as to take this suggestion into consideration? And if it commends itself to your judgment, you would, I think, render an immense service in this supreme crisis by drafting and introducing such a bill as promptly as possible. If it presents the proposition in a manner Constitutionally unobjectionable, it is hard to see how the Imperialists in Congress can reject it without virtually admitting that they doubt whether they have the people really on their side.
I sincerely believe that if such a bill were passed giving us three months time for public discussion before the taking of the popular vote, the annexation scheme would be defeated by an overwhelming majority.
FROM ANDREW CARNEGIE
My dear Friend: Print your speech[1] in pamphlet form and distribute it and I will be your banker. That is the way in which I can aid the good work. You have brains and I have dollars. I can devote some of my dollars to spreading your brains. I wish to fate you could spread some of your brains over your friend.
Do you notice how Labor is speaking out, and how the Farmers are taking it up? If you could get a plebiscite to-day your Government would be drowned deeper than plummet ever sounded.
Do not lose faith in the Republic or in Triumphant Democracy. It is sound to the core.
Many long and happy years be yours.
- ↑ Presumably the speech to be delivered in Chicago a few days later.
END OF VOLUME V
