The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-23

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az 1s11 - NJ aGnannG bofh Frmnce ana
Knxinnd 1Ary wef~ at waS WIN e1rh
other. but their hostile acts towards the
United states aroused . feeling q equal
resentment axainat both. II wAs oniy
because England did pore injury to our
maritime cosnnerce that popular feeling
eventually concentrated against Eng
land We were forced into thae tight.
SITTER having vainly attsmpted BY trade
sssfr1ctions 70 compel respect for Amer-
ican ri9lssA Even when II became nsc-
essary 10 take the Anal step theirs was
considerable opposition. and the vote in
the senate was only nineteen in favor Of
the declaration to thirteen against II. In
the house II had . larger majority. sew
enty-uine votes being cast for war and
forfy-nine votes against IL. Even thea It
might have been averted had thefe been
any means Of quick communication. be-
cause the British government announced
fits purpose 70 discontinue its attack on
American commerce before the deciara-
ton had become known In England. and
Il WAC afterwards learned that this
course was determined upon several
days before <he declaration was signed
by Madison. The purpose Of neither
country WAS known to the other.
Another singular result Of the want
Of prompt communication was that the
most important battle OF the war. that
OF New Orleans. on January 8. 1915. was
fought fifteen days after the treaty OF
peace had been signed. The treaty itself
did not reach this country until Febru-
AIRY. There II no doubt that II was for
tunate for this country that the war
occurred. 1t settled our right to be con-
sidered . nation capable Of taking care
OF Ito own interests.
The war with Mexico brought Us q
great acquisition Of territory. It re-
suited In adding not only Texas. but
Californi& and New Mexico to our do
main. altogsthel about 100000 square
miles. Political considerations created
great cppoaitioa 20 the war. but Presi-
dent Polk sent Gen. Taylor into the dis
puted territory and war had practically
begun before congress. on May 13. 1876,
formally declared It. The Wings ahan-
doned their opposition when once the
step had been taken. and then. al now,
all parties sank their differences and
united in upholdins the policy OF the
administration.
This Il not suitable time to discuss
the causes of the civil war It arose
from circumstances entirely different
from those which had originated the
other wars. Although that eminent Brit
ish advocate Of peace. John Bright. said
1t was the only righteous war waged
within a hundred years. It was OF kind
which is most to be depiored and most
strenuously avoided.
The war upon which we are now en-
tering is unlike any In which we hare
before been engaged Without referring
to the civil war. they were all waged
In. self-defense: this is inspired by q
feeling of humanity and In pursuance OF
a purpose we have always held. to free
the people Of the American continent
from European domination when that
authority became repugnans to those
suffering under It We have never
sought to interfere with European SOW
ereignty over any part OF the hemi-
sphere until the people subject to 1t had
FIRST arisen and sought to throw OF an
nnbeurah,e woke