Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-10-23
The War.

patriotism i'm the conduct of our war witt
Mexico. Many of the leading papers o.
that party in the East, have been guilty OF
the same sort of SANDER. The Philadelphia
Inquirer, of Sept 9Slh, says -" we per-
ceiye that prominent and influential Loco
foco print charges the Wings, as body
with having opposed and interrupted thu
war; The Wings Of the nation, generally
speaking, regard war as a great calamity
and avoid il whenever it may be avoided
with propriety and honor. Nevertheless
purer patriots never breathcd than may be
found among The Wings; while the fact that
the blood of some of their best men and
most cherished favorites has been freely
shed upon the battle-felds Of Mexico, should
call blush to the checks OF every Locotoco
who has the remotest sense OF shame, when
ever attempting to underrate or depreciate
the gallantry, the patriotism, the heroism OF
his political opponents. Such unmanly IN
timations constitute an outrage upon the
manned and manglcd among the living, as
well as TO the memories Of the gallant dead.
II is indeed infamous to find the organ OF
the Government assailing and libclling the
Wings by charges of a want of patriotism,
while thousands Of Wing citizens are serv-
ing ms officers or soldiers in our army in
Mexico--at the very moment, II Is possible,
in which some of them may be pouring out
their blood or yielding up their lives IN a
national quarrel. The Goverement that is
guilty Of such conduct deserves the severest
condemnation, the keenest rcbuke. That
the war might have been avoided with hon
or, and hence should have been avoided, is
the opinion not only of thousands nj home,
but of many of those who have participated
in its perils and triumphs. And upon this
point there will be no evasion, NO equiyoca-
ton, when the matter comes up for discus
sion in Congress. The real authors and
promoters of the war win be there un-
masked. Their objects, selfish and ambi-
tious, as we believe them TO have been, will
be exposed to the public eye and mind.
That the people have already pronounced
against Mr.. Polk and his policy in this mat
ter is quite apparent from the results of the
recent elections. When he provoked and
commenced the war, he had an overwhelm-
ing majority in the popular branch of the
National Legislature. But how stands the
case nowl What is the verdict of his owl
Staiei The probability is that the mex
House Of Representatives viii be against
hm--against him too through the influence
of the people who have been afforded an
opportunity of recording their sentiments
through the ballot-boxes. But, we repeat,
an influential journal, identified with the
Administration, charges the Wings with
having interrupted the war How inter
rupicd III Where and wheni No! Tho
error, from the first, has been at Washing
ton. The war was hecdlessly, reeklessly,
hlindly brought on--and then il was miser-
ably mismanaged. Mr. Polk and his adj
,isers committed blunder after blunder; and
in some cases the blunders have, il possible,
been worse than crimes. They started with
the idea that the Mexicans would not fight
When convinced of their error, they argued
that their first battle would prove their last,
and that single defeat would dispirit and
ovorwhehn them. Under this delusion an
army, altogether inadequate to the emer-
gency, was called into the field and many
of the volunteers who rushed 10 the rescue
were sent back to their homes, mortified and
indignant. But another battle took place
and then the services thatwere refused were
rs earnestly courted. And this has been the
history from the first. The Administration
has been CRYING Peace, feacor while our
gallant little army has been compelled TO
fight battle after battle, and in many eases
against fearful odds. Even now, ii the ne
goiiaticns which were in progress a, the last
dates should fail, the cause, We verify I've
heve, viii he found in the fact that Gen.
SCOTS army was not sufficiently powerful.
In brief, the war was commenced rnwisely-
il has been conducted in a spirit az once nig-
gardly aud cruel, and has been protrec
wantonly and unnecessarily. These are III,
sins and responsibilities Of the Administra
ton. It's head aud its members must an,
will be held accountable, while their un
worthy, unmanly-nay, dasiarslly assault
npon the Whigs---such assaults as we haV
quoted above, will only react upon them
selves. The American People viii neNe
permit the memories Of the Wing heroe
-. aasa l.,.,.,, ,hai, lives tt,on IA