The Florida agriculturist., 1889-03-20

Money there was in vast abundance; in
every state well drilled men by thou
sands stood ready for the word to march,
and the military experience and knowl-
edge given by 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 very short time 100, 1000,
100000, 100000 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 Canadar'
At the seat of government, however,
the plan of the war did not appear SO OBJ
vious, SO simple. Throwing great army
into Canada was all well enough, and
that army would probably do we'll enough.
But the question which produced hard
breathing in the executive branch of the
government was the immediate protec-
ton of the sea coast-Atlantic, Gulf, and
even Pacific.
In storm of national indignation war
had been declared against 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 at
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 AS
has been said, there was money enough,
and every ship yard in the country could
be set to work to build ironclad men-of-
war, but it takes long time to build
ships, and England's navy was afoat.
1t was the British keel that America had
to fear
By means of the continental cables. it
was known that many of the largest
mail vessels of the British transatlantic
lines, which had been withdrawn upon
the declaration of war, were preparing
in British ports to transport troops to
Canada. 1t was not impossible that
these great steamers might land an army
in Canada before an American army
could be organized and marched to that
province. It might.be that the United
States would be forced to defend her
borders, instead of invading those of the
enemy.
In every fort and navy yard all was
activity; the hammering of iron went on
by day and by night, but what was to be
done when the great ironclads of Eng
land hammered upon our defenses? How
long would it be before the American
flag would be seen no more upon the
high seas?
It is not surprising that the govern
ment found it's position one of perilous
responsibility. A wrathful nation ex-
pected Of it more than it could perform.
ALI over the country, however, there
were thoughtful men, not connected
with the government, who saw the
perilous features of the situation, and
day by day these grew less afraid of
being considered traitors and more will
ing to declare their convictions of the
country's danger. Despite the continu-
ance of the national enthusiasm, doubts,
perplexities and fears began to show
themselves.
In the states bordering upon Canada a
reactionary feeling became evident. I'm
less the United States navy could pre-
vent England from rapidly pouring into
Canada, not only her own troops, but
perhaps those Of allied nations, these