The Washington herald., 1911-10-01

brought on the crisis. Merely a bare
mention of the events leading up to
the Spanish war is enough to show
that even the most peaceful of nations
may be driven to the arbitrament OF
battle"
McKinIey's Agony in the Garden.
Cornelius N. Bliss, who was then
Secretary of the Interior" l said, has
told me that he once found President
Mckinley walking in the grounds back
OF the White House in great mental
distress over the seemingly inevitable
conflict with Spain. Were you ever a
witness OF a similar scene?"
mo, 1 was not; but I did note the
gravity with which he met the approach
of war, his SORROW at its necessity. and
his earnest efforts to avert it and to
exhaust every means for its prevention.
Once war was certain, he acted with
vigor, promptness, and intelligence. At
this point it may be well to say that
the Maine was ordered to Cuba as an
asylum for American citizens If they
needed it. There was danger, Fitzhugh
Lee, consul general in Havana. tele-
graphed, of sudden demonstration
against Americans. Now that the wreck
ed vessel is being examined, il is well
to remember what it was doing in the
Havana HarbOr."
What caused you to select Theodore
Roosevelt for the office of Assistant
Secretary of the Navy
II thought him the best man that ap-
peared for the place. There were sew
eral candidates. | did not like the
political backing of some of them.
There were others who did not seem to
be especially we'll qualified for the posi-
tion. One or two. / feared, would. II
chosen. use the office for personal or
partisan purposes. OF those really quail
flied. Roosevelt looked to be the most
energetic and efficient. full of bounding
spirit and vitality. Tom Reed and others
in whom I had confidence urged his
appointment. but Mckinley had doubts.
The President assented. however. It was
his way TO leave departmental matters
to his Secretaries. He rarely interfered
with their administration.
My relations with Roosevelt, after he
came into the navy, were of the most
agreeable character. He worked all the
time. His stenographers were busy
every minute OF the day and part of
the night. At the declaration of war. he
resigned his place to go with the Rough
Riders. | advised him as strongly as
could to remain in the navy. where
hOnors, ! was sure, awaited him. But
! he had determined on his course; how
wisely, the country we'll understands. I
have heretofore stated that he has the
dash of Henry of Navarro without any
Of his vices"
why the Philippines Weret Taken.
! To many persons | said, the Philip
pines seem to be infinitely more bother
some. a great deal more useless. than a
drove OF white elephants. Why were
they taken in the first place."
The administration believed if its
| power were broken in Cuba, Porto Rico.
and the Philippines that Spain would sue
for terms. Europe. We thought, would
regard with disfavor an invasion OF
| Spain. one of its own powers. 1t could
not object, however, II We carried the
war into the Caribbean Sea and the
| Pacific Ocean. We realized that we
/ ought to maintain control of the Allan
/ tic. up and down our coast, and to sink
or capture the Spanish squadron in the
/ Philippines, which was a menace 10 our
cities on the Pacific and our trade in
| that direction.
The battle of Manila was fought and
/ won in seven hours. but Il had required
seven years TO get the ships and tC
| train the men. During the latter part oi
! February. lSgS-the Maine had been blowr
up on the 18th of the mOnth-we cableC