Andrew Dickson White papers microfilm reel 74, March 28, 1898-July 10, 1898

Abstract

The war with Spain was a subject of many writers in these months. Professor Fuertes wrote at length to White and included a copy of a letter he sent President McKinley with his analysis of the situation. Expatriates Evans and Fiske strongly disapproved of the war. Fiske wrote, After having fed the rebellion for over two years with munitions, men, and money, the Washington misrulers turn on poor Spain and threaten her with ruin unless she squelches the revolt they have made possible. On the first of June Henry T. Allen described the scene at the War Department in Washington. The U.S. public favored the war, and many patriotic messages were sent White, especially after his Fourth of July speech at Leipzig. A writer on July seventh hoped the U. S. would take the Canary Islands, . . . our wishes will [then] command far more respect everywhere and especially in such countries as Turkey and in the new states which our children will see in Africa. On June third Holls reported that Germany was said to be paying out workingmen's ·sickness and accident benefits at the rate of a million marks a day. White became acquainted with Gustav Schmoeller, Rector of Berlin University, and sent inquiries to many American universities for him to ascertain whether they required Latin and Greek from candidates for the B.A. degree. The German school was planning to require a certificate of accomplishment in the classics from graduates of colleges that had dropped the classical requirement.