TheThoughtsoutlinedaschemeofpolicy，themoststartlingfeatureofwhichwasaninstant，predatory，foreignwar。Therearetwocluestothisastoundingproposal。OnewasapoliticalmaximinwhichSewardhadunwaveringfaith。“Afundamentalprincipleofpolitics，“hesaid，“isalwaystobeonthesideofyourcountryinawar。Itkillsanypartytoopposeawar。
WhenMr。BuchanangotuphisMormonWar，ourpeople，WadeandFremont，andTheTribune，ledofffuriouslyagainstit。I
supportedittotheimmensedisgustofenemiesandfriends。Ifyouwanttosickenyouropponentswiththeirownwar，goinforittilltheygiveitup。“[19]Hewasnotaloneamongthepoliticiansofhistime，andsomeothertimes，inthesecynicalviews。LincolnhasastoryofapoliticianwhowasaskedtoopposetheMexicanWar，andwhoreplied，“Iopposedonewar；
thatwasenoughforme。Iamnowperpetuallyinfavorofwar，pestilenceandfamine。“
ThesecondcluetoSeward’snewpolicyofinternationalbrigandagewastheneed，asheconceivedit，topropitiatethoseSouthernexpansionistswhointhelowerSouthatleastformedsolargeapartofthepoliticalmachine，whomustsomehowbeluredbackintotheUnion；towhomtheVirginiaCompromise，aswellaseveryotherschemeofreadjustmentyetsuggested，offerednoallurement。LikeLincolndefeatingtheCrittendenCompromise，liketheVirginiansplanningthelastcompromise，Sewardrememberedthefilibustersandthedreamsoftheexpansionists，annexationofCuba，annexationofNicaraguaandalltherest，andhelookedaboutforawaytoreachthemalongthatline。Chancehadplayedintohishands。AlreadyNapoleonIIIhadbegunhisill-fatedinterferencewiththeaffairsofMexico。ArebellionhadjusttakenplaceinSanDomingoandSpainwassupposedtohavedesignsontheisland。