ndition 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
judg