the great war syndicate-第1章

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The　Great　War　Syndicate



by　Frank　Stockton





　



In　the　spring　of　a　certain　year；　not　far　from　the

close　of　the　nineteenth　century；　when　the　political

relations　between　the　United　States　and　Great　Britain

became　so　strained　that　careful　observers　on　both　sides

of　the　Atlantic　were　forced　to　the　belief　that　a

serious　break　in　these　relations　might　be　looked　for　at

any　time；　the　fishing　schooner　Eliza　Drum　sailed　from

a　port　in　Maine　for　the　banks　of　Newfoundland。

　　　

It　was　in　this　year　that　a　new　system　of　protection

for　American　fishing　vessels　had　been　adopted　in

Washington。　　Every　fleet　of　these　vessels　was

accompanied　by　one　or　more　United　States　cruisers；

which　remained　on　the　fishing　grounds；　not　only

for　the　purpose　of　warning　American　craft　who　might

approach　too　near　the　three…mile　limit；　but　also　to

overlook　the　action　of　the　British　naval　vessels

on　the　coast；　and　to　interfere；　at　least　by　protest；

with　such　seizures　of　American　fishing　boats　as　might

appear　to　be　unjust。　　In　the　opinion　of　all　persons　of

sober　judgment；　there　was　nothing　in　the　condition　of

affairs　at　this　time　so　dangerous　to　the　peace　of　the

two　countries　as　the　presence　of　these　American

cruisers　in　the　fishing　waters。

　　　

The　Eliza　Drum　was　late　in　her　arrival　on　the

fishing　grounds；　and　having；　under　orders　from

Washington；　reported　to　the　commander　of　the

Lennehaha；　the　United　States　vessel　in　charge　at　that

place；　her　captain　and　crew　went　vigorously　to　work　to

make　up　for　lost　time。　　They　worked　so　vigorously；　and

with　eyes　so　single　to　the　catching　of　fish；　that　on

the　morning　of　the　day　after　their　arrival；　they　were

hauling　up　cod　at　a　point　which；　according　to　the

nationality　of　the　calculator；　might　be　two　and　three…

quarters　or　three　and　one…quarter　miles　from　the

Canadian　coast。

　　　

In　consequence　of　this　inattention　to　the　apparent

extent　of　the　marine　mile；　the　Eliza　Drum；　a　little

before　noon；　was　overhauled　and　seized　by　the　British

cruiser；　Dog　Star。　　A　few　miles　away　the

Lennehaha　had　perceived　the　dangerous　position　of　the

Eliza　Drum；　and　had　started　toward　her　to　warn　her　to

take　a　less　doubtful　position。　　But　before　she　arrived

the　capture　had　taken　place。　　When　he　reached　the　spot

where　the　Eliza　Drum　had　been　fishing；　the　commander

of　the　Lennehaha　made　an　observation　of　the　distance

from　the　shore；　and　calculated　it　to　be　more　than　three

miles。　　When　he　sent　an　officer　in　a　boat　to　the　Dog

Star　to　state　the　result　of　his　computations；　the

captain　of　the　British　vessel　replied　that　he　was

satisfied　the　distance　was　less　than　three　miles；　and

that　he　was　now　about　to　take　the　Eliza　Drum　into

port。

　　　

On　receiving　this　information；　the　commander　of　the

Lennehaha　steamed　closer　to　the　Dog　Star；　and

informed　her　captain；　by　means　of　a　speaking…trumpet；

that　if　he　took　the　Eliza　Drum　into　a　Canadian　port；

he　would　first　have　to　sail　over　his　ship。　　To　this　the

captain　of　the　Dog　Star　replied　that　he　did　not　in

the　least　object　to　sail　over　the　Lennehaha；　and

proceeded　to　put　a　prize　crew　on　board　the　fishing

vessel。



At　this　juncture　the　captain　of　the　Eliza　Drum

ran　up　a　large　American　flag；　in　five　minutes　afterward

the　captain　of　the　prize　crew　hauled　it　down；　in　less

than　ten　minutes　after　this　the　Lennehaha　and　the

Dog　Star　were　blazing　at　each　other　with　their　bow

guns。　　The　spark　had　been　struck。

　　　

The　contest　was　not　a　long　one。　　The　Dog　Star　was

of　much　greater　tonnage　and　heavier　armament　than　her

antagonist；　and　early　in　the　afternoon　she　steamed　for

St。　John's；　taking　with　her　as　prizes　both　the　Eliza

Drum　and　the　Lennehaha。

　　　

All　that　night；　at　every　point　in　the　United　States

which　was　reached　by　telegraph；　there　burned　a

smothered　fire；　and　the　next　morning；　when　the　regular

and　extra　editions　of　the　newspapers　were　poured　out

upon　the　land；　the　fire　burst　into　a　roaring　blaze。　

From　lakes　to　gulf；　from　ocean　to　ocean；　on　mountain

and　plain；　in　city　and　prairie；　it　roared　and　blazed。　

Parties；　sections；　politics；　were　all　forgotten。　　Every

American　formed　part　of　an　electric　system；　the　same

fire　flashed　into　every　soul。　　No　matter　what　might　be

thought　on　the　morrow；　or　in　the　coming　days　which

might　bring　better　under…standing；　this　day　the

unreasoning　fire　blazed　and　roared。

　　　

With　morning　newspapers　in　their　hands；　men　rushed

from　the　breakfast…tables　into　the　streets　to　meet

their　fellow…men。　　What　was　it　that　they　should　do？

　　　

Detailed　accounts　of　the　affair　came　rapidly；　but

there　was　nothing　in　them　to　quiet　the　national

indignation；　the　American　flag　had　been　hauled　down　by

Englishmen；　an　American　naval　vessel　had　been　fired

into　and　captured；　that　was　enough！　　No　matter　whether

the　Eliza　Drum　was　within　the　three…mile　limit　or

not！　　No　matter　which　vessel　fired　first！　　If　it　were

the　Lennehaha；　the　more　honour　to　her；　she　ought　to

have　done　it！　　From　platform；　pulpit；　stump；　and

editorial　office　came　one　vehement；　passionate　shout

directed　toward　Washington。

　　　

Congress　was　in　session；　and　in　its　halls　the　fire

roared　louder　and　blazed　higher　than　on　mountain　or

plain；　in　city　or　prairie。　　No　member　of　the

Government；　from　President　to　page；　ventured　to　oppose

the　tempestuous　demands　of　the　people。　　The　day　for

argument　upon　the　exciting　question　had　been　a　long

weary　one；　and　it　had　gone　by　in　less　than　a　week

the　great　shout　of　the　people　was　answered　by　a

declaration　of　war　against　Great　Britain。

　　　

When　this　had　been　done；　those　who　demanded　war

breathed　easier；　but　those　who　must　direct　the　war

breathed　harder。

　　　

It　was　indeed　a　time　for　hard　breathing；　but　the

great　mass　of　the　people　perceived　no　reason　why　this

should　be。　　Money　there　was　in　vast　abundance。　　In

every　State　well…drilled　men；　by　thousands；　stood　ready

for　the　word　to　march；　and　the　military　experience　and

knowledge　given　by　a　great　war　was　yet　strong　upon　the

nation。



To　the　people　at　large　the　plan　of　the　war　appeared

a　very　obvious　and　a　very　simple　one。　　Canada　had　given

the　offence；　Canada　should　be　made　to　pay　the　penalty。　

In　a　very　short　time；　one　hundred　thousand；　two　hundred

thousand；　five　hundred　thousand　men；　if　necessary；

could　be　made　ready　for　the　invasion　of　Canada。　　From

platform；　pulpit；　stump；　and　editorial　office　came　the

cry：　　〃On　to　Canada！〃

　　　

At　the　seat　of　Government；　however；　the　plan　of　the

war　did　not　appear　so　obvious；　so　simple。　　Throwing　a

great　army　into　Canada　was　all　well　enough；　and　that

army　would　probably　do　well　enough；　but　the　question

which　produced　hard　breathing　in　the　executive　branch

of　the　Government　was　the　immediate　protection　of　the

sea…coast；　Atlantic；　Gulf；　and　even　Pacific。

　　　

In　a　storm　of　national　indignation　war　had　been

declared　against　a　power　which　at　this　period　of　her

history　had　brought　up　her　naval　forces　to　a　point

double　in　strength　to　that　of　any　other　country　in　the

world。　　And　this　war　had　been　declared　by　a　nation

which；　comparatively　speaking；　possessed　no　naval

strength　at　all。

　　　

For　some　years　the　United　States　navy　had　been

steadily　improving；　but　this　improvement　was　not

sufficient　to　make　it　worthy　of　reliance　at　this

crisis。　　As　has　been　said；　there　was　money　enough；　and

every　ship…yard　in　the　country　could　be　set　to　work　to

build　ironclad　men…of…war：　but　it　takes　a　long　time　to

build　ships；　and　England's　navy　was　afloat。　　It　was　the

British　keel　that　America　had　to　fear。

　　　

By　means　of　the　continental　cables　it　was　known

that　many　of　the　largest　mail　vessels　of　the　British

transatlantic　lines；　which　had　been　withdrawn　upon　the

declaration　of　war；　were　preparing　in　British　ports

to　transport　troops　to　Canada。　　It　was　not　impossible

that　these　great　steamers　might　land　an　army　in　Canada

before　an　American　army　could　be　organized　and　marched

to　that　province。　　It　might　be　that　the　United　States

would　be　forced　to　defend　her　borders；　instead　of

invading　those　of　the　enemy。

　　　

In　every　fort　and　navy…yard　all　was　activity；　the

hammering　of　iron　went　on　by　day　and　by　night；　but　what

was　to　be　done　when　the　great　ironclads　of　England

hammered　upon　our　defences？　　How　long　would　it　be

before　the　American　flag　would　be　seen　no　more　upon　the

high　seas？

　　　

It　is　not　surprising　that　the　Government　found　its

position　one　of　perilous　responsibility。　　A　wrathful

nation　expected　of　it　more　than　it　could　perform。

　　　

All　over　the　country；　however；　there　were

thoughtful　men；　not　connected　with　the　Government；　who

saw　the　perilous　features　of　the　situation；　and　day　by

day　these　grew　less　afraid　of　being　considered

traitors；　and　more　willing　to　declare　their　convictions

of　the　country's　danger。　　Despite　the　continuance　of

the　national　enthusiasm；　doubts；　perplexities；　and

fears　began　to　show　themselves。

　　　

In　the　States　bordering　upon　Canada　a　reactionary

feeling　became　evident。　　Unless　the　United　States　navy

could　prevent　England　from　rapidly　pouring　into　Canada；

not　only　her　own　troops；　but　perhaps　those　of　allied

nations；　these　Northern　States　might　become　the　scene

of　warfare；　and　whatever　the　issue　of　the　contest；

their　lands　might　be　ravished；　their　people　suffer。

　　　

From　many　quarters　urgent　demands　were　now　pressed

upon　the　Government。　　From　the　interior　there　were

clamours　for　troops　to　be　massed　on　the　Northern

frontier；　and　from　the　seaboard　cities　there　came　a　cry

for　ships　that　were　worthy　to　be　called　men…of…war；

ships　to　defend　the　harbours　and　bays；　ships　to　repel

an　invasion　by　sea。　　Suggestions　were　innumerable。　

There　was　no　time　to　build；　it　was　urged；　the

Government　could　call　upon　friendly　nations。　　But　wise

men　smiled　sadly　at　these　suggestions；　it　was　difficult

to　find　a　nation　desirous　of　a　war　with　England。

　　　

In　the　midst　of　the　enthusiasms；　the　fears；　and　the

suggestions；　came　reports　of　the　capture　of

American　merchantmen　by　fast　British　cruisers。　　These

reports　made　the　American　people　more　furious；　the

American　Government　more　anxious。

　　　

Almost　from　the　beginning　of　this　period　of

national　turmoil；　a　party　of　gentlemen　met　daily　in　one

of　the　large　rooms　in　a　hotel　in　New　York。　　At　first

there　were　eleven　of　these　men；　all　from　the　great

Atlantic　cities；　but　their　number　increased　by　arrivals

from　other　parts　of　the　country；　until　at　last　they；

numbered　twenty…three。　　These　gentlemen　were　all　great

capitalists；　and　accustomed　to　occupying　themselves

with　great　enterprises。　　By　day　and　by　night　they　met

together　with　closed　doors；　until　they　had　matured　the

scheme　which　they　had　been　considering。　　As　soon　as

this　work　was　done；　a　committee　was　sent　to　Washington；

to　submit　a　plan　to　the　Government。

　　　

These　twenty…three　men