in the Union.  The suppressed people would have risen to either of them.  That’s God’s truth as I believe it.  The real United States is made up of you and Frank and the Page boys at Aberdeen and of the 10,000,000 other young fellows who are ready to do the job and who instinctively see the whole truth of the situation.  But of course what the people would not have done under certain conditions—­that water also has flowed over the dam; and I mention it only because I have resolutely kept my faith in the people and there has been nothing in recent events that has shaken it.”

Two letters which Page wrote on this same April 1st are interesting in that they outline almost completely the war policy that was finally carried out: 

     To Frank N. Doubleday

     Embassy of the United States of America,
     April 1, 1917.

     DEAR EFFENDI: 

     Here’s the programme: 

     (1) Our navy in immediate action in whatever way a conference with
     the British shows we can best help.

     (2) A small expeditionary force to France immediately—­as large as
     we can quickly make ready, if only 10,000 men—­as proof that we are
     ready to do some fighting.

(3) A large expeditionary force as soon as the men can be organized and equipped.  They can be trained into an effective army in France in about one fourth of the time that they could be trained anywhere else.

     (4) A large loan to the Allies at a low rate of interest.

     (5) Ships, ships, ships—­troop ships, food ships, munition ships,
     auxiliary ships to the navy, wooden ships, steel ships, little
     ships, big ships, ships, ships, ships without number or end.

(6) A clear-cut expression of the moral issue involved in the war.  Every social and political ideal that we stand for is at stake.  If we value democracy in the world, this is the chance to further it or—­to bring it into utter disrepute.  After Russia must come Germany and Austria; and then the King-business will pretty nearly be put out of commission.

     (7) We must go to war in dead earnest.  We must sign the Allies’
     agreement not to make a separate peace, and we must stay in to the
     end.  Then the end will be very greatly hastened.

It’s been four years ago to-day since I was first asked to come here.  God knows I’ve done my poor best to save our country and to help.  It’ll be four years in the middle of May since I sailed.  I shall still do my best.  I’ll not be able to start back by May 15th, but I have a feeling, if we do our whole duty in the United States, that the end may not be very many months off.  And how long off it may be may depend to a considerable degree on our action.

We are faring very well on army rations.  None of us will live to see another time when