On the record
But a striking and useful lesson would be lost if it should be forgotten that the country was brought to the verge of war by the proclamation of a policy which could not be, and was not intended to be, enforced.
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gutenberg.orgJames Blaine: “But a striking and useful lesson would be lost if it should be forgotten that the country was brought to the verge of…”
Editor's note · Context
Blaine highlights the lessons learned from a near-war situation caused by an unenforceable policy.
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You can use force only to repel an assault on the public property and aid the Courts in the performance of their duty.
But this is a totally different thing from an offensive war to punish the people for the political misdeeds of their State Government, or to enforce an acknowledgment that the Government of the United States is supreme.
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