"In reply to your question, 'Should difficulties between the United States and Spain be settled peacefully by statesmanship and diplomacy, in a way honorable and satisfactory to both nations?' I will say I can see no other way of settling difficulties between individuals and nations than that of their wholesome tribunals, equitable law, and sound, well-kept treaties.
"A bullet in a man's heart never settled the question of his life. The mental animus goes on, and urges that the answer to this sublime question shall come from God, and its adjustment shall be according to His laws. The characters and lives of men determine the peace, prosperity, and life of nations. Killing men is not consonant with the higher law whereby wrong and injustice are righted and exterminated, but ofttimes the cause of these evils.
"Whatever weighs in the eternal scale of equity and mercy tips the beam on the right side, wherein and whereby the immortal words and deeds of men alone can settle all questions amicably and satisfactorily. But if our nation's rights or honor were seized, every citizen would be a soldier and woman armed with power girt for the hour."
