The Life and Letters of Walter H. Page, Volume II | Page 7

Burton J. Hendrick
the United States. And there'll be more. The Napoleonic
Wars were about eleven years long. I fancy that we shall have war and
wars from this attempt to dominate Europe, for perhaps as long a
period. The Balkans can't be quieted by this war only, nor Russia and
Italy perhaps. And Germany may have a series of earthquakes
herself--internal explosions. Then Poland and perhaps some of the
Scandinavian States. Nobody can tell.
I cannot express my admiration of the President's management, so far at
least, of his colossal task of leading us right. He has shown his supreme
wisdom up to this point and I have the profoundest confidence in his
judgment. But I hope he doesn't fool himself about the future; I'm sure

he doesn't. I see no possible way for us to keep out, because I know the
ignorance and falseness of the German leaders. They'll drown or kill
more Americans--on the sea and in America. They may at last even
attack one of our own passenger ships, or do something that will
dramatically reveal them to the whole American people. Then, of
course, the tune will be called. It's only a question of time; and I am
afraid the war will last long enough to give them time. An early peace
is all that can prevent them from driving us at last into war; and I can
see no chance of an early peace. You had as well prepare as fast as the
condition of public opinion will permit.
There could be no better measure of the immeasurable moral advance
that the United States has made over Europe than the incredulity of our
people. They simply can't comprehend what the Napoleonic legend can
do, nor the low political morality of the Continent--of Berlin in
particular. Hence they don't believe it. We have gone on for 100 years
working might and main to better our condition and the condition of
people about us--the greatest effort made by the largest number of
people since the world began to further the mood and the arts of peace.
There is no other such chapter in human history as our work for a
hundred years. Yet just a hundred years ago the Capitol at Washington
was burned by--a political oligarchy in the freest country of Europe--as
damnable an atrocity as you will find in history. The Germans are a
hundred years behind the English in political development and political
morality.
So, let Willum J. come. He can't hurt Europe--nor help it; and you can
spare him. Let all the Peace-gang come. You can spare them, too; and
they can do no harm here. Let somebody induce Hoke Smith to come,
too. You have hit on a great scheme--friendly deportation.
And Bryan won't be alone. Daughters of the Dove of Peace and Sons of
the Olive Branch come every week. The latest Son came to see me
to-day. He said that the German Chancellor told him that he wanted
peace--wants it now and wants it bad, and that only one thing stood in
the way--if England would agree not to take Belgium, Germany would
at once make peace! This otherwise sensible American wanted me to

take him to see Sir Edward to tell him this, and to suggest to him to go
over to Holland next week to meet the German Chancellor and fix it up.
A few days ago a pious preacher chap (American) who had come over
to "fix it all up," came back from France and called on me. He had seen
something in France--he was excited and he didn't quite make it clear
what he had seen; but he said that if they'd only let him go home safely
and quickly he'd promise not to mention peace any more--did I think
the American boats entirely safe?--So, you see, I do have some fun
even in these dark days.
Yours heartily, W.H. PAGE.
IV
This letter discloses that Page was pinning his faith in President Wilson,
and that he still had confidence in the President's determination to
uphold the national honour. Page was not one of those who thought that
the United States should declare war immediately after the Lusitania.
The President's course, in giving Germany a chance to make amends,
and to disavow the act, met with his approval, and he found, also, much
to admire in Mr. Wilson's first Lusitania note. His judgment in this
matter was based first of all upon the merits of the case; besides this,
his admiration for Mr. Wilson as a public man was strong. To think
otherwise of the President would have been a great grief to the
Ambassador and to differ with his chief on the tremendous issue of the
war would have meant for Page the severance of one of the most
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code

 / 173
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.