Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-05-06
BURlEIGH & FlYNT, Pubs Kennebec Journal

~ the aggressionS of England which
brought on the war. She arrogantIy
assumed the right to search American
ships and take from them all seam IN
who at any time had been British sub
jects and many of those thus i'm
pressed into the British navy We're
American citizens born in this country
The Leopard fired on the Chesapeake
June y. 1907. War did not follow. al
though the country clamored for it.
Jefferson would not yield to the popular
clamor, but brought about the passage
OF the embargo act. suspending all
trade with foreign countries. Rather
than go to war the United States was
prepared to sever all connection with
the outside world.
inc depreddtonS continued for five
years more. ami during that time nearly
4 thousand American merchant vessels
with their valuable cargoes were cap
tured by British cruisers and thousands,
OF American seamen impressed to serve
IN the British navy. The insults and out
RACES could be borne no longer, and the
peaceful measures of Madison like those
OF Jefferson. failed to bring Great Brit :
am to sense of justice. War was de
clared in June. 1872. And England was
quite as surprised as Spain is now Be
cause we loved peace she believed we
We're cowardly.
The Mexican war has been called an
by Americans, was department of Mex
leo when that republic was formed In
1884 Santa Anna abolished the sovereignty
OF the states and erected a central mill
tary despostism. with himself presi-
dent. The Mexican congress declared
that all states and people should surren-
der their arms to the central government
Texas refused. knowing that, the In
dians there largely outnumbered the
whites the Surrendering of arms meant
defenseessness against Indian deprela-
tions. Then Santa Anna tried to compel
obedience by force of arms. but failed
Texas declared herself free. The United
States, as we'll as England. France and
Belgium. recognized the independence of
the new republic of Texas.
Then Texas sought admission To the
union Twice ii was refused, but at last
largely through the influence of Calhoun
who said that if il We're not annexed it
would speedily come under the dominion
of England, ii was admitted and Decem-
ber. 1915. she became a part of the United
States. This was more than eight wears
after Texas had been free
Mexico had never regarded Texas as in
dependent in spite of the recognition by
other nations. and threatened an invasion
OF the new state, President Folk ordered
General Taylor to prevent the invasion.
In the instructions to General Taylor was
this sentence: 1T is not designed in our
present relations with Mexico that you
should treat her as an enemy: but should
she assume that character. by declara-
ton of war or any open act of host tility
toward us, you will not act merely on the
Defensive.
General Taylor camped on the Texan
side of the Rio Grande and remained
quiet for some weeks. until the Mexicans
began hostilitieS by attacking and cap
turing a accommodating party of Ameri-
can dragons. War followed. At its con-
clusion the United States not only did
not demand indemnity but paid ST.. 900 900
for New Mexico and California, which we
had won by conquest.
Our war with Spain is the direct re-
suit of a long series of insults by the Cas-
tilians. The Spanish cabinet itself knows
what we endured in the Black WARRIOR
affair. and of the murder of the crew of
the Virginius. These are but two in
stances in long line of nsolent disre-
gard of American rights by the Castlians.
None but American property has been
damaged by the SpaniardS during the Gu
ban war. This was merely because the
Spaniards believed that the United States
would not fight. Our patient forbearance
was mistaken for cowarlice.
But Spain will learn the lesson that pa
tient Uncle Samuel is forced to teach the
world every now and then which is that
while he loves peace more than does any
body else in the world, after a while he
becomes tired of turning the other cheek