The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-21

foreign affairs, in which he says: Your
letter of yesterday has received my full
lest attention, with preference to much
other pressing business. He praises
the high motive inspiring my journey
to Spain and says again: The generos-
ity and energy which prompted you to
make this long excursion to a strange
land for the sake Of peace, united to
your intense patriotism and your love OF
Spain,' etc. Continuing, he says his
most ardent personal desire is to see
the speedy termination Of this sad con-
fiict,' and that he desires for Cuba, "a
system of government in harmony with
the interests Of humanity and civiliza-
tion.'
''Of course. peace would have come
Spain was beaten, but she was not
ready to surrender then. She still
wanted to fight for Havana and the
Philippines, but I maintain the dOcu-
ments I submitted to the minister of
state decided her to sue for peace just
then, and I believe you will find the
Spanish authorities bear me out 1t
was only a straw, but still the straw
that broke the camePs back Spain
trusted me; she knew that I liked her
noble but defenseleSS country, was OF
her religion and detested the war, con-
slder1ng it a disgrace to our country.
Therefore, I told her it was fOOlhardy
to light US longer; that we would surely
beat her: that we had more resources
of all sorts, as well as men; claimed to
know our people Gas I thought I did,
for had been much among them), and
said many disliked the war as much as
l; that many good PrOtestants had been
influenced to consent to assist the war
by the representations made Of Spanish
cruelty and the continued fighting in
Cuba (Which I also thought should
cease; that if she SPAIN continued
fighting she would lose the sympathy
of Americans and Europeans as well,
but that if she sued for peace now she
would find how noble and generous a
people we are and not the mercenary
-
give her generous terms now which she
would not get later. I advised her to
give us a cOaling station or two,
though, strictly speaking, we should
the war in the name of humanity but
our government might need them and
we had been put to much expense.
In short, wrote such a strong ap-
peal for peace feared might OverdO it
by my blunt statements, using the word
TOOlhardy,' etc. was certain my
country would act hOnorably so you
may imagine my modification and cha
grin to ind we are trying to grab all
we can.
Following this letter I shall have a
storm OF abuse, know, from the jim
goes and the A. p. AS. who have alrea-
dy written me so many insulting let
tiers, but I defy one of them to show any
one who has made greater sacrifices to
maintain the honor Of our grand cOun-
try. It is necessary for US to arouse
ourselves, or it will be too late to show
the world what we really are, and to de-
feat the schemes of the miserable jim
goes who are traitors to our grand re-
public and seek to draw US into further
difficulties. This is no time for party
strife or bitter religious feeling if we
would save our country Democrats
and Republicans must act together.
Possibly it was fortunate the Repub-
hcans won in the last election, for
amongst them are many honorable
men who will maintain our national
honor, and the party that began the
war, in the name of humanity will
be able to finish it in the name of hui
manity, and not disgrace US by making
terms too difficult for our conquered
foe. JESSIE A. SCHLEY."