The Great Military Syndicate
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
understanding
,
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
had
formed
themselves
into
a
Syndicate
,
with
the
object
of
taking
entire
charge
of
the
war
between
the
United
States
and
Great
Britain
.
This
proposition
was
an
astounding
one
,
but
the
Government
was
obliged
to
treat
it
with
respectful
consideration
.
The
men
who
offered
it
were
a
power
in
the
land
,
—
a
power
which
no
government
could
afford
to
disregard
.
The
plan
of
the
Syndicate
was
comprehensive
,
direct
,
and
simple
.
It
offered
to
assume
the
entire
control
and
expense
of
the
war
,
and
to
effect
a
satisfactory
peace
within
one
year
.
As
a
guarantee
that
this
contract
would
be
properly
performed
,
an
immense
sum
of
money
would
be
deposited
in
the
Treasury
at
Washington
.
Should
the
Syndicate
be
unsuccessful
,
this
sum
would
be
forfeited
,
and
it
would
receive
no
pay
for
anything
it
had
done
.
The
sum
to
be
paid
by
the
Government
to
the
Syndicate
,
should
it
bring
the
war
to
a
satisfactory
conclusion
,
would
depend
upon
the
duration
of
hostilities
.
That
is
to
say
,
that
as
the
shorter
the
duration
of
the
war
,
the
greater
would
be
the
benefit
to
the
country
,
therefore
,
the
larger
must
be
the
pay
to
the
Syndicate
.
According
to
the
proposed
contract
,
the
Syndicate
would
receive
,
if
the
war
should
continue
for
a
year
,
one
-
quarter
the
sum
stipulated
to
be
paid
if
peace
should
be
declared
in
three
months
.
If
at
any
time
during
the
conduct
of
the
war
by
the
Syndicate
an
American
seaport
should
be
taken
by
the
enemy
,
or
a
British
force
landed
on
any
point
of
the
seacoast
,
the
contract
should
be
considered
at
an
end
,
and
security
and
payment
forfeited
.
If
any
point
on
the
northern
boundary
of
the
United
States
should
be
taken
and
occupied
by
the
enemy
,
one
million
dollars
of
the
deposited
security
should
be
forfeited
for
every
such
occupation
,
but
the
contract
should
continue
.
It
was
stipulated
that
the
land
and
naval
forces
of
the
United
States
should
remain
under
the
entire
control
of
the
Government
,
but
should
be
maintained
as
a
defensive
force
,
and
not
brought
into
action
unless
any
failure
on
the
part
of
the
Syndicate
should
render
such
action
necessary
.
The
state
of
feeling
in
governmental
circles
,
and
the
evidences
of
alarm
and
distrust
which
were
becoming
apparent
in
Congress
and
among
the
people
,
exerted
an
important
influence
in
favour
of
the
Syndicate
.
The
Government
caught
at
its
proposition
,
not
as
if
it
were
a
straw
,
but
as
if
it
were
a
life
-
raft
.
The
men
who
offered
to
relieve
the
executive
departments
of
their
perilous
responsibilities
were
men
of
great
ability
,
prominent
positions
,
and
vast
resources
,
whose
vast
enterprises
had
already
made
them
known
all
over
the
globe
.
Such
men
were
not
likely
to
jeopardize
their
reputations
and
fortunes
in
a
case
like
this
,
unless
they
had
well
-
founded
reasons
for
believing
that
they
would
be
successful
.
Even
the
largest
amount
stipulated
to
be
paid
them
in
case
of
success
would
be
less
than
the
ordinary
estimates
for
the
military
and
naval
operations
which
had
been
anticipated
;
and
in
case
of
failure
,
the
amount
forfeited
would
go
far
to
repair
the
losses
which
might
be
sustained
by
the
citizens
of
the
various
States
.
At
all
events
,
should
the
Syndicate
be
allowed
to
take
immediate
control
of
the
war
,
there
would
be
time
to
put
the
army
and
navy
,
especially
the
latter
,
in
better
condition
to
carry
on
the
contest
in
case
of
the
failure
of
the
Syndicate
.
Organization
and
construction
might
still
go
on
,
and
,
should
it
be
necessary
,
the
army
and
navy
could
step
into
the
contest
fresh
and
well
prepared
.
All
branches
of
the
Government
united
in
accepting
the
offer
of
the
Syndicate
.
The
contract
was
signed
,
and
the
world
waited
to
see
what
would
happen
next
.
The
influence
which
for
years
had
been
exerted
by
the
interests
controlled
by
the
men
composing
the
Syndicate
,
had
its
effect
in
producing
a
popular
confidence
in
the
power
of
the
members
of
the
Syndicate
to
conduct
a
war
as
successfully
as
they
had
conducted
other
gigantic
enterprises
.
Therefore
,
although
predictions
of
disaster
came
from
many
quarters
,
the
American
public
appeared
willing
to
wait
with
but
moderate
impatience
for
the
result
of
this
novel
undertaking
.
The
Government
now
proceeded
to
mass
troops
at
important
points
on
the
northern
frontier
;
forts
were
supplied
with
men
and
armaments
,
all
coast
defences
were
put
in
the
best
possible
condition
,
the
navy
was
stationed
at
important
ports
,
and
work
at
the
shipyards
went
on
.
But
without
reference
to
all
this
,
the
work
of
the
Syndicate
immediately
began
.
This
body
of
men
were
of
various
politics
and
of
various
pursuits
in
life
.
But
politics
were
no
more
regarded
in
the
work
they
had
undertaken
than
they
would
have
been
in
the
purchase
of
land
or
of
railroad
iron
.
No
manifestoes
of
motives
and
intentions
were
issued
to
the
public
.
The
Syndicate
simply
went
to
work
.
