The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08

arc pF1nt0O III tUlS NOluulO DclOTO ulFcCLlnR NJ
tention 10 those documents, which possess moro
thnn ordinary historical value.
OF tho four Presidents with whom we nre
here concerned. tho earliest. Zachary Taylor,
may DO said TO have had scarcely any education.
Tb 81 IL probably tho reason why his nomination
for the ONCE Of Chief Magistrate was pro-
nouncod by a great Wing statesman zone not
1T % be made" He was born In Orange county.
Va, Nov. "a, 1884, and was thus tho seventh OF
The Presidonts which the Old Dominion has
Giyon 70 tho Union. He was the third son OF
III, hard Taylor. n Colonel In tho war OF tho
Revolution. who had been conspicuous for zeal
and courage. In 1888 Richard Taylor removed
70 Kentucky. then nm outlying part OF Virginia,
and settled near the sIto OF the present city OF
Lo ~iisville. Here, o: course. thc boy Zachary
had but little opportunity OF attending school.
and ut the ago OF 81 he had received prob
ably less education than had bonn obtained
at tho same are by my Other President
with the exception of Andrew Jackson. Andrew
johnson. and. perhaps we should add. Abraham
lincoln. A. tho age OF % he was appointed a
lieutenant in the seventh Infantry. and two
yeurs later WAS promoted to tho grade of Cap
tain. Not long aftcrward no received the brevet
Of Major for defending a fort against tho lndi.
4 aus, and In 1914 no commanded In n campaign
against hostile Indians and their British allies.
III vas made Lieutcnnnt.C Colonel OF the First
Infantry In 1919, hut thirteen ycnrs elapsed be-
fore he became full Colonel OF that regiment.
lie was engaged In fighting tho Indians until
1896, when he was transferred to Florida; for
gall mt conduct there he gained, In the follow
Eng year. tho brcvct OF Brigadior. Gcneral. and In
1910 was assigned to ommnnd the Southern
division Of tho Western Military Depart
u.an Tn IAlA halnfr than ~ vAnra Hf
age. ho wns ordered 10 tho defence
Of Texas. which had been annexed to tho
United Statea. Tho series Of Victories won by
him against superior forces brought him tho
rank OF Brevct Ma1or-Gencrnl. and on June ~.
1641. ho was made Cominnn OF all tho
American troops IN Mexico. and retained that
position until Mnjor.G;en. Scott was ordered
ehl,her. Toward tho close OF November In tho
year named no returned to tho United States,
and was received with enthusiastio demonstra.
tions. His military prestige caused him to DO
selooted In ls4s by tho whIk National Convon.
ton a. tho candidate for tho Presidency. al.
though he had for competitors Henry Clay. Dan
1ol Wobater, and Gen. Scott He was elected,
but no died ON July o. 1880, having occupied the
White House only about q year ana four months.
The most important Of the State papers Of
President Taylor 10 the communication which
accompanied tho Clayton-Bulwer treaty. trans
milton 70 Inc Sonhto on hprli 80, 1901. BctOro
reproducing q part OF this document we should
secur to the Presidents first annual message.
dated Dec. 1. ls+0. In which no explains tho
situation In Central America, whereof the Clay
ton-Bulwor treaty was an outcome. The pas
sage In the first annual message which has q
special bearing on tho subject ran AS follows:
"a contract having been concluded with the
State OF Nicaragua by u company composed OF
American citizens. for the purpose OF construct
ing Q 0hip canal through the territory OF that
State 70 connect tho Atlantic and Pacific
oceans, I have directed tho negotiation OF q
1 treaty with Nicaragua, ~pledging both Gov
ornmonts TO protect those who shall engage
In and perfect tho work. All other nations
ere invited by the State OF Nicaragua to enter
Into the samo treaty stipulations with her; and
the benefit 10 be derived by each from such nm
arrangement will DO the protection OF this great
anteroooanio communication against any power
. which might sock To obstrurt II or to monopolize
Sts advantages. All Statos entering into such q
treaty will enjoy the right of passage through
the canal on payment Of the Same tolls. The
work. II constructed under these guarantees.
WI become n bond Of peace instead OF a subject OF
contention and strife between the nations OF the
earth. Should tho great maritime States OF Eu.
rope consent to this arrangement land We have nc
reason TO suppose that n proposition 20 fair and
honorable will be opposed by any). the energies
Of their people and ours will cooperate In pro
noting tho success OF The enterprise. l do not
recommend any appropriation from tho national
Treasury for this purpose, nor do l believe that
such an appropriation Ia necessary. Private en-
tarpriso. II properly protected, will complete
the work. should It prove to he feasible. The
parties who have procured tho charter from
Nicaragua for Its construction dcslre no assist.
hnce from this Government beyond its protoc
uon. and they profess that. having examined
the propose. limo OF communication. they vii
Be ready TO commence tho undertaking when
ever that protection shall be extended to them
should there appear TO bo reason, on examining
the whole evidence, to entertain u serious doub
Of the practicability OF constructing such q
canal. that doubt could no speedily solved by al
actual exploration OF the route. Should such
work DO constructed under the common protec
tion Of all nations. for equal benefits to all. 1
would bs neither Just nor eNpodient that an,
great maritime state should command tn,
communication Tho territory through whicl
the canal may be opened ought TO DO freed from
the claims OF any foreign power. No sucl
bower should occupy a position that woul,
oAehle II hereafter 10 exercise 40 controlling al
influence over the m Of tho world or h
obstruct q highway which ought TO DO dedicate,
30 the common uses OF mankind"
30 much for tho American interests In NicarA
opA and the official recognition which they hn,
klroAdy commanded before the close OF ls49
Now to explain why subsequently, 1t SCENE,
e1psdient to President Taylor and TO John NJ
Clayton. his Secretary OF State. to enter into
treaty with Great Britain concerning tn,
construction OF an interocoanic waterway acros
The American isthmuS. 1t may DO well to plac,
In jnxtAposition with tho passage above quote,
an extract from a communication made to III,
senate on March 10. 1880, accompanying
treaty which had Just been made between tn
Unitod States and Nicaragua: when | cam
Into once l found the British Government Il
PoaSession OF tho port OF San Juan. which IL ha,
Aken by fore OF arms after We had takon poe
isssion OF California and while We were engage,
the negotiation OF a treaty for tho oessiol
II, and that no official remonstranco ha,
essn made by this Government against tho AZ
9reAaion. nor any attempt to resist II. Effort
were then being made by certain private citizen
Tho United States TO procure from tho stat
y Nicaragua by contract the right TO cut tn
proposed Ship canal by the WAY of Ihe niv.r o.,