Evening star., 1898-08-17
REPEATING HISTORY
Some Comparisons With the War
With nj, xico
SIMILAR INCIDENTS ON LAND And Sea
Methods of Arranging Peace at
That Period.
HEROES OF BOTH WARS
HEROES OF BOTH WARS

| Written for The Evening Star
In view of the negotiations with Spain
/. is of interest to recall those between this
country and Mexico at the termination of
the tive years war with Mexico That war
dates from April p, 1916. to July 4. 1sls.
Inc treaty of peace being promulgated at
the latter date. In that war the United
states had 1920 men, nearly 1900 being
militia and volunteers, who had been victor
ious IN nearly every engagement, though
outhumoered Though virtually conquered
before the capitulation of the city of Mex
leo to Gen. Scott, the Msxicans declined
to enter into negotiations, as suggested
by our commissioner, Mr.. Trist directly
after the battle of Cherebusco, August 20,
ls4i- In concert with the commander-in-
chief Mr.. TIist continued his attempts, but
the Mexican authorities were deaf for a
while, though finally Santa Anna being su-
perseded and the army disintegrated there
was a disposition on their part to treat
with the victors
Accordingly when General Scott laid be-
fore the Mexican congress at Cueretaro in
January, 1SfS, articles of treat that body
appointed commissioners at once These
met Mr. Trist at Guadaloupe, tdalgo and
a treaty of peace. FRIENDSHIP limits and
-
1913 The attested copy was sent to Wash
iEston, and before the end of the month was
transmitted to the Senate, by which il was
slightly amended and ratified. AS amended
the document was sent by A. H Sewer
minister plenipotentiary), and Nathan
CEford tafterward justice Supreme Court
United States as commissioners to the
Mexican government at Queretaro. and it
was ratified by both houses of Congress-
and on May 30 the ratiffcations We're ex-
changed by the minister of relations of
Mexico and Commissioners Sewer and Cliff
ford. This having been done the treaty
was promulgated July 4, 1913, by President
Polk
By the articles of treaty the United States
troops were to be Withdrawn from Mexico
within three months after the final ratifi-
cation, and within month after the ex-
change of ratifcations-May 30-most of
the troops had reached their homes, the
bulk of them reaching New Orleans by the
middle of June and on the ensuing Fourth
of July the nation celebrated the close of
the war simultaneously with the promulga-
ton of the treaty.
History Repeats Itself.
That history repeats itself is evident by
the record of the war with Spain many of
the events, in the last few months, recall
ing like achievements in former years. The
war with Mexico. which was concluded half
a century ago, and resulted in the addition
of so large and valuable territory to Uncle
Sans domain, grew out of the attempt of
Mexico to eacroach on what had been Mex
lean territory.
Texas declared her independence in 1887,
and was acknowledged by the United
States, but there was constant friction with
Mexico for several years, the latter claim
ing much of the territory east of the Rio
Grande. Early in 1915 Texas, through her
governor, Congress and convention, asked
the aid and protection Of the United States
army, and President Polk directed General
Taylor, then in Louisiana. to hold his
troops in readiness to move into Texas, and
shortly after to move. Texas at once ap-
piled for annexation, and in December of
that year the formal act of Congress add
ing the lone star state was passed. In the
meantime General Taylor was marching to
the western frontier and squadron was
sent to the gulf coast.
Whatever are the reasons the government
assigns as the cause of the recent war; the
general public look it as a war by invi-
tation. fought in the interest of a down.
troddcn people, the causes being SINH
lar TO those which led to the Mexican war
misrule and oppression. The acquisition of
territory, save to secure all which belonged
to Texas, was, at the beginning, not
thought of. nor was there such object in
view in the war now closing.
Naval Achievements.
Vera Cruz, with its castle of San Juan |
de Ulloa, was taken by siege and lombard |
ment as the base for the army, as Santiago |
has been. Then we had the gallant achieve |
ment of Lieutenant Parker, Midshipmen |
Rodgers and Hynson and a crew of six of |
the brig SOmers burning the bark Creole |
under the guns of San Juan. Now we have |
the worldrenowned exploit of Hobson and |
about The same number of men, running |
the MerlImac, amid a shower of shot and |
shell, into the harbor of Santiago and sink /
ing her. Then We had the capture of AL |
varado and Tlacotalpan and four vessels |
by the little steamer Scourge, Lieut.. Hun |
ter. which resulted in the court-martial of |
Lieut.. Hunter for disobedience of orders |
to simply blockade the first named port and |
his public reprmand. The public applaud |
ed his action, which, in view of the fact |
that the MeXicans had twice repulsed our |
attacks and Gen. Scott and Commodore |
Perry were then planning an attack by |
land and sea, appeared incredible and COM /
ical- Recently we had the capture of Ponce |
by few of the smaller vessels of the navy |
before the army reached there.
Then we had the Texas Rangers. with
and Sam Walker; now we have /
eur Rough Riders Then the Light ArtiI-
lery (popularly known as the Flying Artil- |
lery) of Ringgold, Bragg, Duncan. Shar- |
man played as important parts as Capron's |
and other batteries recently achieved.
Heroes and Their Sons.
In that war many who took high rank on |
the Union and confederate sides in the |
civil war won their first laurels. and some
have sons or grandSons in the service now
Among these were Gems. Grant, Sherman. /
Meade, Pope, Reynolds, Huger, Kearney,
Fremont, Wright, Emory and Mansfield
and others on the Union side and Gems.
E. Kerby Smith and E.welI of
the c. S. A, with Jefferson Davis. the
president of the confederacy.
Gen. Worth, who was wounded recently |
at Santiago, is the son OF Maj. Gen Worth.
who served on the staff of Gen. Scott in |
the war of u, and who made a most bril-
liant record in Mexico. That the son is a
chip of the old book is shown by the |
record he made in the civil war and his eon-
tuct at Santiago Gen Ftz. Lee,who comes
rom the Light Horse Harry stock of the |
revolution, won his first laurels in the In |
iian campaign, and others in the con- |
-ederate service as a general officer under |
ois distinguished uncle, Robert E. Lee The
,ather of Gen. Fred. Grant and grandfather
sf Capt Sartoris, Gen. L. S. Grant, served
n Mexico. Gen. VIM. NJ Graham is a son
If Col w. NJ. Graham, who fell in Mexico
eading the 11th Infantry at Molino del !
2ey. Lieut.. ]. p. G. Ord, killed at Sam
iago, is the son of Gen. e. o. C. Ord who |
vas an officer of the regulars in the Mex |
can war, who died a few years ago in !
Havana. Lieut.. Fremont of the navy, |
whose effective work on the Cuban coast |