“And yet, while we await that blessed day, when embodied justice shall sit in judgment between peoples as between individuals, from time to time conditions more repellant than war may confront a nation, and to remove such conditions as the solemn dictates of reason and religion impose was as righteous and obligatory.  Let the life of a nation or the integrity of its territory be menaced, let the honor of a nation be assailed, let the grievous crime against humanity be perpetrated within reach of a nation’s flag or a nation’s arm, reiterated appeals or argument and diplomacy failing, what else remains to a nation which is not so base as to court death or dishonor but to challenge the fortunes of war and give battle while strength remains in defense of ‘its hearthstones and its altars’?  War, indeed, is dreadful; but let it come; the sky may fall, but let justice be done.  War is no longer a repudiation of peace, but the means to peace—­to the soul peace a self-sacrificing people may enjoy—­peace with honor.

“A just and necessary war is holy.  The men who at country’s call engage in such a war are the country’s heroes, to whom must be given unstinted gratitude and unstinted praise.  The sword in their hands is the emblem of self-sacrifice and of valor; the flag which bears them betokens their country and bids them pour out in oblation to purest patriotism the life blood of their hearts; the shroud which spreads over the dead of the battlefield is the mantle of fame and of glory.

“Happy the nation which has the courage of a just war, no less than that of a just peace, whose sons are able and willing to serve her with honor alike in war and in peace.  Happy the nation whose jubilee of peace, when war has ceased, is also a jubilee of victory.

“’We love peace, not war, but when we go to war we send it the best and bravest of the country.’  These words, spoken a few days ago by the chief magistrate of America, embody a great principle of American life.

Six months ago the congress of the United States declared that in the name of humanity war should be waged in order to give to the island of Cuba a stable and independent government.  Magnificent patriotism of America.  The people of the United States at once rose in their might.  They argued not, they hesitated not.  America had spoken; theirs was not to judge but to obey.  In a moment the money of America, the lives of America, were at the disposal of the chief magistrate of the nation, whose embarrassment was the too generous response to his appeal for means to bring victory to the nation’s flag.  America had spoken.  Partisan politics, sectional disputes instantly were stilled beneath the majesty of her voice.  Oft it had been whispered that we had a North and a South.  When America spoke we knew that we were but one people; that all were Americans.  It had been whispered that social and economic lines were hopelessly dividing the American people, and that patriotism was retreating before the growth of class interests and class prejudices.