The Civil War veterans had conflicting opinions on the Spanish-American War due to their different experiences and perspectives. Some veterans saw the war as a continuation of the Civil War, while others viewed it as a new conflict with different goals and objectives. Some veterans saw the war as a way to spread democracy and freedom, while others saw it as a way to expand the United States' influence and power. Additionally, some veterans saw the war as a way to avenge the deaths of their comrades in the Civil War, while others saw it as a waste of resources and lives.