The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-03-16

was enough. No matter whether the
Eliza Drum was within the three mile
limit or not! No matter which vessel
fired first! II it were the Lennehaha,
the more honor to her; she ought to
have done i'll From platform, pulpit,
stump and editorial Office came one We
hement, 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 or
prairie. No member of the government,
from president to page, ventured to OPP
pose the tempestuous demands of the
people. The day for argument upon the
exciting question had been long and
weary one, and it had gone by. In less
than week the great shout of the peo-
pie was answered BY declaration of war
against Great Britain.
When this had been done those who
demanded war breathed easier, but those
who must direct the war breathed harder.
1t was indeed 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 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
Tense, Canada should be made to pay
the penalty. In very short time 100, 900,
200 900, 500, 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 Canadap
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 we'll enough, and
that army would probably do well 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 a storm of national indignation war
had been declared against power which
at this period of her history had brought
up her naval forces to a point double in
strength to that of any other country in
the world. And this war had been de-
clared by a 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 afloat.
It 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. 1t 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?
1t is not surprising that the govern
ment found its position one Of perilous
responsibility. A wrathful nation ex
petted of it more than it could perform.
All 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 10 declare tnelT COuNlClloiS VI VIC
countrys 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. IN
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
northern states might become the scene
of warfare, and whatever the issue of
the contest, their lands might be ravished,
their people suffer.
From many quarters urgent demands
were now pressed upon the government.
From the interior there were clamors for
troops to be massed on the northern
frontier, and from the seaboard cities
there came a cry for ships that We're
worthy to be called men-ofwar; ships to
defend the harbors and bays; ships to
repel an invasion by sea. Suggestions
were innumerable. There was no time
to build, it was urged; the government
could call upon friendly nations. But
wise men smiled sadly at these sugges-