Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-07-07
A Blot on American history.

In 1916 came the American war and
INVASION, when the United States, with
zone fell swoop," as it were, took from
Mexico considerably more than one-half
of all its territory-923, S35 square miles
out of a former total of 900, 3l7. 1t is
true that payment was rendered and
accepted for about one thirty-fourth
part (the Gladsden purchase) of what
was taken, but appropriation and ac-
ceptance of payment were alike COM
pulsory. For this wal the Judgment of
all impartial history will undoubtedly
be that there was no justification or
good reason on the part of the United
States. It may be that what happened
was an inevitable outcome of the law of
the survival of the f~ittest, as exemplified
among nations; and that the contrasts
as seen to-day between the life, energy,
and fierce development of much of that
part of Old Mexico that became
observation-disclosures, Texas and Col
orado-and the stagnant, poverty
stricken condition of the contiguous
Observation-Disclosures, Sonora, Goa
huila--that remained Mexican, are q
proof of the truth of the proverb that
'the tools rightfully belong to those
who can use them" But, nevertheless,
when one stands beside the monument
erected at the foot Of Chapultepec, to
the memory of the young cadets of the
Mexican Military School-mere boys
who, in opposing the assault of the
American columns, were faithful unto
death to their flag and their country,
and notes the sternly simple inscription,
"Who fell in the North American inva-
SION; and when we also recall the COM
parative advantages Of the ~contending
forces-the Americans audacious, in
spirited with continuous success,
equipped with an abundance of the
most improved material of war, COM
manded by most skilled officers, and
backed with an o~veriowing treasury ;
the Mexicans poorly clothed, poorly
fed, poorly armed, unpaid, and gener-
ally led by uneducated and often in
competent commanders; and remember
the real valor with which, under such
circumstances, the latter, who had re-
ceived SO little from their country,
resisted the invasion and conquest of
that country; and that in no battle Of
mOucT times nave Tie LOSSES DeeH as
great comparatively as were sustained
by the Mexican forces-there is GER
tainly not much of pleasure or satisfac-
ton that sober. minded, justice-loving
citizen Of the United States can or ought
to find in this part of his country's his
tory. And, if we are the great, mag
unanimous, and Christian nation that we
claim to be, no time ought to be lost in
proving to history and the world our
right to the claim, by providing, by act
Of Congress, that all those canno which
lie scattered over the plains at West
Point, bearing the inscriptions "Vera
Cruz" "Contreres." "Chapnltepec.'
"Molino del Rey, and "City Of Mexico, "
and some Of which have older insignia,
showing that they were originally
captured by Mexican patriots from
Spain in their struggles for liberty to-
| gether with every captured banner or
other trophy preserved in onr national
museums and collections, be gathered
mp and respectfully returned to the
Mexican people.--Hon. David a. Wells,
I m Popal0r Science Monthly.