The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-03-14

hands men rushed from the breakfast
tables into the streets to meet their tel
low men. What was it that they
should dor
Detailed accounts Of the affair came
rapidly, but there was nothing in them
to quiet the national indignation. The
American dag had been hauled down by
Englishmen, an Amezioan naval vessel
had been fred into and captured; that
was enoughi No matter whether the
Eliza Drum was within tho three milo
limit or not! No matter which vessel
fred frsti r It were the Lezanehaha,
the moro honor to her; she ought to
have done III From platform, pulpit,
stump and editorial Office came one ve-
hs,nent, passionate shout directed to-
ward Washington.
Congress Was In session, and In its halls
the fire roared louder and blazed higher
than on mountain or plain. In city OF
prairie. No member Of the government,
from president to page. ventrred to op-
pose the tempestuous demands Of tho
people. The day for argument upon the
exciting question had been . long and
weary one, and It had gone BY. In less
than q week the great shout Of the peo-
pie was answered by declaration Of war
against Great Britain.
When this had been done those whA
demanded war breathed easier. but those
who must direct the war breathed harder.
It was indeed q time for hard breath
ing, but the great mass Of the people
perceived no reason why this should be.
Money there was in vast abundance; in
every state we'll drilled men by thou
sands stood ready for the word to march,
and the military experience and knowl-
edge given by a great war was yet
strong upon the nation.
To the people at large the plan of the
war appeared very obvious and very
simple one. Canada had given the Of
fense, Canada should be made to pay
the penalty. In a very short time 100, 900,
zoe, 1000, SOC, 900 men, if necessary, could
be made ready for the invasion of Can
ada. From platform, pulpit, stump and
editorial office came the cry:
"On to Canada!"
At the seat OF government, however,
the plan Of the war did not appear so OBJ
vious, 80 simple. Throwing great army
into Canada was all well enough, and
that army would probably do well enough.
But the question which produced hard
breathing in the executive branch of the
government was tho immediate protec-
ton of the sea coast-Atlantic. Gulf, and
even Pacific.
In storm of national indignation war
had been declared againsta power which
at this period of her history had brought
up her naval forces to point double in
strength to that of any other country in
the world. And this war had been de-
clared by nation which, comparatively
speaking, possessed no naval strength al
all.
For some years the United states navy
had been steadily improving, but this
improvement was not sufficient to make
It worthy Of reliance at this crisis. Al
has been sold, there was money enough
and every ship yard in tho country could
be set to work to build honclad men-of
war, but it takes q long time to build
ships; and England's navy was afloat
It was the British keel that America had
| to fear.
By means Of the continental cables Il
was known that many OF the largest
mail vessels Of the British transatlantic
lines, which had been withdrawn upor
the declaration of war. were preparing
in British ports to transport troops *
Canada. It was not impossible tha
these great steamers might land On army
in Canada before an American arm,
could be organized and marched to tina
province. It might be that the Unitet
States would be forced to defend he
borders. instead Of invading those Of tn
enemy.
In every fort and navy yard ell We
| activity: the hammering of iron went c.
by day and by night. but what was to l.
| done when the great irOncis:ds OF In
land hammered upon our defenses: i3ov
| long would it be before the Anelic2l
flag would DO seen no more upon I'll
| high eeas?
It is not surprising that the govern,
ment found its position one Of peri:ou
responsibility. A .wrathful nation e.
pected Of it more than it could pe;for::,
AL over the country. however. the:
| were thoughtful men. not connecte.
| with tho government, who saw tn
| perilous features of the situation, an,
day by day these grew less afraid 6
being considered traitors and more will
| ing to declare their convictions Of tn
country's danger. Despite the continu
| ance of the national enthusiasm, doubts
perplexities and fears began to shov
themselves.
In the states bordering upon Canada ,
| reactionary feeling became evident. Un
less the United States navy could pre-
vent England from rapidly pouring int
| Canada, not only her own troops, bu
! perhaps those Of allied nations, thes
| northern states might become the seen
| Of warfare, and whatever the issue o
the contest, their lands might be ravished
their people suffer.
From many quarters urgent demand
were now pressed upon the government
From the interior there were clamors 70
troops to be massed ON the northern
| frontier, and from tho seaboard cite
there came q cry for ships that wer
! worthy to be called men-of-war; ships t
| defend the harbors and bays; ships t
repel an invasion by sea- Suggestion
| were iunumerable. There was no tim
| to build, it was urged; the governmen
could call upon friendly nations. Blu
wise men smiled sadly at these sugges
tons; it was difficult to find . nation de
| sirous Of war with England
In the midst Of The enthusiasms> th