The Triumphant Life of Theodore Roosevelt edited by J. Martin Miller

BIOGRAPHY OF HON. CHARLES W. FAIRBANKS 315
calmly alert, and gave conservative and wise advice to a
conservative and wise President. He counseled McKinley
not to rush unprepared into a conflict, which, perhaps, might
be avoided and all the ends accomplished without bloodshed.
After introducing in the Senate a resolution requesting the
President to tender his good offices toward the securing of a
cessation of hostilities in Cuba, and laboring toward that end
until there was no longer hope of peace, the Indianian
advocated vigorous prosecution of war.
It was through the initiative of Senator Fairbanks that the
United States extended a helping hand to the stricken people
of Martinique at the time that St. Pierre was destroyed in
May of IQ02. For this he was thanked by the French
Governor. Mr. McKinley made him one of the commissioners
on the United States and British Joint High Commission,
which settled various matters of dispute, such as the pro-
posed abrogation of the Rush-Bagot treaty of 181 7.