The Writings of Carl Schurz/To President McKinley, April 8th, 1898

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Editorial Article: National Honor, March 19th

Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz
Carl Schurz and others, edited by Frederic Bancroft

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New York City: G. P. Putnam's Sons, pages 457–458

3388513Speeches, correspondence and political papers of Carl Schurz — To President McKinley, April 8thCarl Schurz and others

TO PRESIDENT McKINLEY

[New York,] April 8, 1898.

Accept my sincere thanks for the cordial reception which, as your secretary, Mr. Porter, informs me, you have given to my letter of April 1st.

Permit me now to send you a report of the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of New York in which a resolution drawn by me was adopted commending your peace policy. It faithfully represents the feelings of the best part of the community.

Unless I am much mistaken, the war fever stirred up by the “yellow journals” is on the point of receding. Owing partly to the indiscreet and impudent utterances of the Cuban Junta, partly to the immediate imminence of war, many people who but yesterday talked fluently about “liberating Cuba at any cost,” begin to open their eyes to the dreadful and thankless impossibility we shall impose upon this Republic if by warlike action we make it answerable for the future peace and orderly conduct of the people of that island. If availing yourself at the last moment of the last chance, you succeed in saving the Republic from so terrible and hopeless an estrangement, the American people will never cease to be grateful to you. I think you can frankly and boldly take the people into your confidence by a solemn word of warning with the assurance that a large majority of the thinking men will at once be on your side, and the rest will soon come to their senses.

Permit me another word. It would very grievously hurt this Republic in the opinion of mankind, which after all is of high importance to all of us, if the suspicion were permitted to grow up that the ultimate annexation of Cuba was a secret motive of our action. In my humble opinion, such an impression cannot be too carefully guarded against.

Pardon another suggestion. I fear some of your friends in Congress are doing you a bad service by representing the coming war, if it should come, as a political party matter. There has been some very reckless talk of this kind the effect of which is bad, and which does you great injustice.

Believe me, dear Mr. President, faithfully and anxiously yours.