Mother Spain would assuredly come out openly against the United States
and consequently ally with the Confederacy.

The statement of the dilemma--side with Spain, or the black
republic--reminded the President of a negro story, quite akin.

A colored parson was addressing his hearers and drew a dreadful
picture of the sinner in distress. He had two courses before him,
however. But the exhorter asserted in a gush of novelty that:

"Dis narrer way leads on to destruction--and dat broad one to
damnation--"

Feeling he was overshooting the mark by the dismay among his
congregation, he paused, when an impulsive brother started up with
bristling wool and staring eyes, and, making for the door, hallooed:

"In dat case, dis chile he takes to de woods!"

Mr. President elucidated the black prospect.

"I am not willing to assume any new responsibilities at this juncture.
I shall, therefore, avoid going to the one place with Spain or with
the negro to the other--but shall take _to the woods_!"

A strict and honest neutrality was therefore observed, and--San
Domingo is still a bone of contention, though not with Spain, for
it is an eye on our canal.