Великий военный синдикат

           ItwasnotimpossiblethatthesegreatsteamersmightlandanarmyinCanadabeforeanAmericanarmycouldbeorganizedandmarchedtothatprovince.ItmightbethattheUnitedStateswouldbeforcedtodefendherborders,insteadofinvadingthoseoftheenemy.Ineveryfortandnavy-yardallwasactivity;thehammeringofironwentonbydayandbynight;butwhatwastobedonewhenthegreatironcladsofEnglandhammereduponourdefences?HowlongwoulditbebeforetheAmericanflagwouldbeseennomoreuponthehighseas?ItisnotsurprisingthattheGovernmentfounditspositiononeofperilousresponsibility.Awrathfulnationexpectedofitmorethanitcouldperform.Alloverthecountry,however,therewerethoughtfulmen,notconnectedwiththeGovernment,whosawtheperilousfeaturesofthesituation;anddaybydaythesegrewlessafraidofbeingconsideredtraitors,andmorewillingtodeclaretheirconvictionsofthecountry’sdanger.Despitethecontinuanceofthenationalenthusiasm,doubts,perplexities,andfearsbegantoshowthemselves.IntheStatesborderinguponCanadaareactionaryfeelingbecameevident.UnlesstheUnitedStatesnavycouldpreventEnglandfromrapidlypouringintoCanada,notonlyherowntroops,butperhapsthoseofalliednations,theseNorthernStatesmightbecomethesceneofwarfare,andwhatevertheissueofthecontest,theirlandsmightberavished,theirpeoplesuffer.FrommanyquartersurgentdemandswerenowpressedupontheGovernment.