Hong Kong by application of the neutrality laws, and international
obligations might embarrass him unless he took the aggressive, and
made for himself a base of supplies in the Philippine Islands. It
was expected every day that he would make an assault upon Manila,
the capital of the Philippines, and that the first naval
engagement of consequence in the war would be with the Spanish
fleet in those waters. No one doubted that the Asiatic squadron
would be able to give a good account of itself, although the fleet
which was to oppose it did not lack efficient guns and fighting
strength.

The capture of that valuable Spanish colony, in which rebellion
against the government was in progress, would be not only a severe
blow to the Spanish arms, but would also strengthen the position
of the United States in the Orient by the capture of large
supplies of coal and naval equipment, as well as a splendid base
of operations.

But while these preparations were going on for the conflict which
was destined to cost Spain her possessions in the western world,
there were a few individuals who were still making desperate
efforts to induce the administration at Washington to effect a
compromise at any cost. Not even the actual declaration of war,
and the call for volunteers, could bring the members of this
peace-at-any-price party to a realization of the fact that
patience has ceased to be a virtue, that we could no longer turn a
deaf ear to the appeals of an oppressed people, and that the brave
men who went down with the Maine must be avenged.

Every true American felt that the hour had come when we must