The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-24
JESSIE SCHLEY'S WANDERINGS
The Peace Advocate Talks in a Pc
culiar Vein About Her Mission.

NEW YORK, Sept. 23.-Miss Jessie
Schley, the peace advocate, of Milwaukee,
whose cousin crushed Cerveras fleet, is in
New York. She has just returned from Cuba
and she says some curious things about the
war and her remarkable part in it, when
/ first began to agitate against war with
Spain" she said, Il wrote to Cousin Scott
and asked him not to fire the first gun. he
wrote back and asked me if he had my
permission to fight if the Spaniards shot
at him first. I told him if he thought he
was right TO go ahead. He is sailor and
good one. i am proud of him. He did his
duty. But ut was an unholy war, just the
same. Spartan women used to urge their
men to war. 1t is for American women to
urge their men to peace.
How did l first come to take so active
an interest in the peace movement? Well it
came upon me in moment of prayer. was
kneeling in the little Corpus Christi Chapel
in Paris. Tell the public / was kneeling in
a Spanish church, and let the enemies of
peace make the most of it. God does not
love good Spaniard less than good Amer
lean, and He judges nations with the same
exactitude that He does individuals. While
praying the thought came to me that Amer
lean women must stop the war. l went to
work and gahized at once the Women's
International League for Peace. In three
weeks the league had three thousand mem
berS mostly ProteStantS. Our first meeting
was held in the home of Cornelius Wander
bits brother-in-law. Then a general peace
convention was held, at which five principal
peace organizations of Europe were repre-
scented.
Il was elected committee of one to go
to Madrid and inform the Queen Regent
and Senior SagaSta that they were whipped
Senior Moret received me kindly and showed
me many courteses while | was in Spain.
The Spanish public knew l was Roman
NJ rlf. nFa6 frix Of Snn In nnh
detested the war, SO had no trouble in Sc
curing listeners.
do you know who destroyed the Maine?
1t wasn't the SpaniardS. 1t was some of our
American iingoes, who entered into con-
spiracy with the Cuban jingOes for the pur-
pose of setting Spain and the United States
at each others throats / know this asser-
ton will create a storm but it is the truth.
Why should they hesitate to destroy few
hundred American lives and great war
ship, when they were plotting of war that
meant the slaughter of thousands? Born in
wickedness! should saw it was.
Il went to Havana, and after paying my
respects to General Blanco and the other
Spanish officials. | went to an insurgent
camp They had been creating a disturb
ance, and my fighting blood was up. 1 used
plain language with them. told them that
# they did not quit fighting we would cut
their threats and annex Cuba. They quit.
General Fitzhugh Lee is a frebrand. He
should not be sent to Cuba. The best of the
Spaniards and Cubans dislike him. They
say his coming will create trouble. 1t is
time Tor the best element of this country
to assert itself, and put the Lees in the
background.
Now, l am not opposed to war The
time may come when we will have to fight
in a good cause. Then ] will be found no
advocate of peace until 1t is properly won.
But no more disgraceful, unholy war like
this has BEEN
II am an old maid, but were I married
ana the mother of son ! would send him
to West Point or Annapolis. If any one is
interested in it, tell them l am Roman
NV nf fcv7ff LNnrnr Of NJ
family are. / am a good American. This
is the best country on earth"