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fair measures regarding these。 The Foreign Office was reasonable；
and gradually the most vexatious of these prohibitions were
removed。
But the war with Spain drew on； and animosities； so far as the
press on both sides of the water was concerned； grew worse。
Various newspapers in Germany charged our government with a
wonderful assortment of high crimes and misdemeanors； but；
happily； in their eagerness to cover us with obloquy； they
frequently refuted each other。 Thus they one day charged us with
having prepared long beforehand to crush Spain and to rob her of
her West Indian possessions； and the next day they charged us
with plunging into war suddenly； recklessly； utterly careless of
the consequences。 One moment they insisted that American sailors
belonged to a deteriorated race of mongrels； and could never
stand against pure…blooded Spanish sailors； and the next moment；
that we were crushing the noble navy of Spain by brute force。
Various presses indulged in malignant prophecies： the Americans
would find Spain a very hard nut to crack； Spanish soldiers would
drive the American mongrels into the sea； when Cervera got out
with his fleet； the American fleet would slink away； Spanish
ships； being built under the safeguard of Spanish honor； must win
the victory； American ships； built under a regime of corruption；
would be found furnished with sham plating； sham guns； and sham
supplies of every sort。 It all reminded me of sundry prophecies
we used to hear before our Civil War to the effect that； when the
Northern and Southern armies came into the presence of each
other； the Yankee soldiers would trade off their muskets to the
foe。
Against President McKinley every sort of iniquity was charged。
One day he was an idiot； another day； the most cunning of
intriguers； at one moment； an overbearing tyrant anxious to rush
into war； at another； a coward fearing war。 It must be confessed
that this was mainly drawn from the American partizan press； but
it was； none the less； hard to bear。
In the meantime President McKinley； his cabinet； and the American
diplomatic corps in Europe did everything in their power to
prevent the war。 Just as long as possible the President clearly
considered that his main claim on posterity would be for
maintaining peace against pressure and clamor。 Under orders from
the State Department I met at Paris my old friend General
Woodford； who was on his way to Spain as minister of the United
States； and General Porter； the American ambassador to France；
our instructions being to confer regarding the best means of
maintaining peace； and we all agreed that everything possible be
done to allay the excitement in Spain； that no claims of a
special sort； whether pecuniary or otherwise； should be urged
until after the tension ceased； that every concession possible
should be made to Spanish pride； and that； just as far as
possible； everything should be avoided which could complicate the
general issue with personal considerations。 All of us knew that
the greatest wish of the administration was to prevent the war；
or； if that proved impossible； to delay it。
For years； in common with the great majority of American
citizens； I had believed that the Spanish West Indies must break
loose from Spain some day； but had hoped that the question might
be adjourned until the middle or end of the twentieth century。
For I knew well that the separation of Cuba from Spain would be
followed； after no great length of time； by efforts for her
annexation to the United States； and that if such annexation of
Cuba should ever occur； she must come in as a State； that there
is no use in considering any other form of government for an
outlying dominion so large and so near； that there is no other
way of annexing a dependency so fully developed； and that； even
if there were； the rivalry of political parties contending for
electoral votes would be sure to insist on giving her statehood。
I dreaded the addition to our country of a million and a half of
citizens whose ability to govern themselves was exceedingly
doubtful； to say nothing of helping to govern our Union on the
mainland。 The thought of senators and representatives to be
chosen by such a constituency to reside at Washington and to
legislate for the whole country； filled me with dismay。
Especially was the admission of Cuba to statehood a fearful
prospect just at that time； when we had so many difficult
questions to meet in the exercise of the suffrage。 I never could
understand then； and cannot understand now； what Senator Morgan
of Alabama； who once had the reputation of being the strongest
representative from the South； could be thinking of when he was
declaiming in the Senate； first in behalf of the 〃oppressed
Cubans；〃 and next in favor of measures which tended to add them
to the United States； and so to create a vast commonwealth
largely made up of negroes and mulattos accustomed to equality
with the whites； almost within musket…shot of the negroes and
mulattos of the South； from whom the constituents of Mr。 Morgan
were at that very moment withholding the right of suffrage。 I
could not see then； and I cannot see now； how he could possibly
be blind to the fact that if Cuba ever becomes a State of our
Union； she will soon begin to look with sympathy on those whom
she will consider her 〃oppressed colored brethren〃 in the South；
and that she will； just as inevitably； make common cause with
them at Washington； and perhaps in some other places； and
possibly not always by means so peaceful as orating under the
roof of the Capitol。
Moreover； the nation had just escaped a terrible catastrophe at
the last general election； the ignorant； careless； and perverse
vote having gone almost solidly for a financial policy which
would have wrecked us temporarily and disgraced us eternally。
Time will； no doubt； develop a more conservative sentiment in the
States where this vote for evil was cast； as civilization deepens
and advances； better ideas will doubtless grow stronger； but it
is sure that the addition of Cuba to the United States； if it
ever comes； means the adding of a vast illiterate mass of voters
to those who at that election showed themselves so dangerous。
On all these accounts I had felt very anxious to put off the
whole Cuban question until our Republic should become so much
larger and so much more mature that the addition of a few
millions of Spanish…Americans would be of but small account in
the total vote of the country。
Then； too； I had little sympathy with aspirations for what
Spanish revolutionists call freedom； and no admiration at all for
Central American republics。 I had officially examined one of them
thoroughly； had known much of others； and had no belief in the
capacity of people for citizenship who prefer to carry on
government by pronunciamtentos； who never acknowledge the rights
of majorities； who are ready to start civil war on the slightest
pretext； and who； when in power； exercise a despotism more
persistent and cruel than any since Nero and Caligula。 No Russian
autocrat； claiming to govern by divine right； has ever dared to
commit the high…handed cruelties which are common in sundry West
Indian and equatorial republics。 I felt that the great thing was
to gain time before doing anything which might result in the
admission of the millions trained under such influences into all
the rights； privileges； and