Великий военный синдикат

           Whatwasitthattheyshoulddo?Detailedaccountsoftheaffaircamerapidly,buttherewasnothinginthemtoquietthenationalindignation;theAmericanflaghadbeenhauleddownbyEnglishmen,anAmericannavalvesselhadbeenfiredintoandcaptured;thatwasenough!NomatterwhethertheElizaDrumwaswithinthethree-milelimitornot!Nomatterwhichvesselfiredfirst!IfitweretheLennehaha,themorehonourtoher;sheoughttohavedoneit!Fromplatform,pulpit,stump,andeditorialofficecameonevehement,passionateshoutdirectedtowardWashington.Congresswasinsession,andinitshallsthefireroaredlouderandblazedhigherthanonmountainorplain,incityorprairie.NomemberoftheGovernment,fromPresidenttopage,venturedtoopposethetempestuousdemandsofthepeople.Thedayforargumentupontheexcitingquestionhadbeenalongwearyone,andithadgonebyinlessthanaweekthegreatshoutofthepeoplewasansweredbyadeclarationofwaragainstGreatBritain.Whenthishadbeendone,thosewhodemandedwarbreathedeasier,butthosewhomustdirectthewarbreathedharder.Itwasindeedatimeforhardbreathing,butthegreatmassofthepeopleperceivednoreasonwhythisshouldbe.Moneytherewasinvastabundance.IneveryStatewell-drilledmen,bythousands,stoodreadyforthewordtomarch,andthemilitaryexperienceandknowledgegivenbyagreatwarwasyetstronguponthenation.Tothepeopleatlargetheplanofthewarappearedaveryobviousandaverysimpleone.Canadahadgiventheoffence,Canadashouldbemadetopaythepenalty.