The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-21

The problem OF the duration OF the
present war continues the absorb
ing subject Of thought. Long and OF
variant color is the list Of unified
prophecies to date. from that of II. @,
Wells who. Immediately after the out
break in 1914. looked for the Allies to
occupy Berlin within sixty days. to
the lately expressed prediction or a
we'll known publication that nobody
now living will see the real. end OF
the war"
1t was pointed out during the civil
war by a leading STUDENT and writer
that, as now, there was no trust
worthy data for casting the horoscope
Of the war then raging. consequently
no man OF experience ventured to
prophesy, none being gifted with the
necessary historical and political pre-
science, This was shown in Stewards
saying at the opening Of the war that
1t vas only a tempest In teapot
which would blow over In ninety days.
Similar prophecies of Seward long
thereafter ended in smoke. and
brought forth from an English dip
lomat then in Washington the OBJ
servation that no Minister OF a Eu-
ropean Parliamentary Government
could remain in power after having
continually contradicted facts.
Preceding Stewards miscalculations
was that OF Robert Toombs of Georgia,
on the eve Of the war. that the roll
Of the slaves would be called in the
shadow Of Bunker Hill. About this
time Senator Hammond OF South Car
DINA predicted the downfall OF Eng
land for want of American cotton.
Senator Wigfall Of Texas insisted that
Queen Victoria's crown would not
stand on her shoulders a week il
cotton shipments were stopped. Hor-
ace Greeley, after the defeat of the
Union army at Bull Run, said that
public sentiment was everywhere
gathering and deepening against pros
ecution Of the war and even limited at
possible disarmament OF our forces
John c. Breckenridge of Kentucky
encouraged by Bull Run, predicted the
success Of the Confederate cause, fol-
lowed by the creation of four separate
nations within a year.
jefferson Davis, only nine months
before the fall of the Confederacy
said the war must go on TIN the last
man of this generation falls in his
track and his children take up his
musket." He saw so little Of peace
ahead after the complete collapse OF
his Government that he announced
that the Confederates had entered
upon a new phase OF the struggle
General Sherman, too. apprehended
that the dispersed Confederate armies
would form nunberless bands to be
dealt with before the final establish.
ment OF peace.
Governor Allston OF South Carolina
| predicted as the outgrowth of seces-
sion an empire that would defy al
Europe, srander than the world had
seen since the age Of Pericles and in.
Guiding within its borders Mexico ant
| Cuba.
Gladstone. falling to comprehend
| existing conditions or future pos
sibilities. announced in Parliament IL
| 1862 that the South had founded q
| nation. No less wide Of the mark was
his countryman Delane, editor Of the
| London Times, on the result Of the
| Franco Prussian war when it opened
| with an offer to lay his last shilling
upon Casquinette against Pumper.
nickle"
Representative Justin s. Morrill, OF
Vermont. in February, 1852, told the
House OF Representatives the wal
I