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