Evening star., 1899-03-03
REPEATING HISTORY
Recent War With Spain and the Con-
flict of l847.
COMPARISON MADE OF TIE LOSSES
PoIk's Message to Congress Con-
cerning Mexican Treaty.
CONDITIONS NOW

That "history repeats ITSELF is evident to
all who have kept pace with the annals of
our army and navy and are just now re-
| joicing in the recent triumph of our arms
| and the termination of the war with Spain
| The war with Mexico was in many respects
| similar to the Spanish war though happily
| the latter lasted but few months while
| in the former 1t required nearly two years
! to win peace. In some battles in Mexico
| the Americans sustained heavy loss yet, so
| great were the odds In numbers and posi-
| ton, there was scarcely victory gained
| that did not appear almost beyond belief
| Among the achievements We're those of
Iaylor, who encountered at intervals four
| or five times the number of his force and
| these, too in fortified positions; the landing
| by Scott at Vera Cruz of a force of 12 900
| men in one afternoon not only without the
| loss OF single man. but with no accident
Whatever, fact which at the time electri-
ned the world: and the successful capture
OF that city with its castle of San Juan de
tiloa, after siege of five days. during
which the fire was incessant. with a loss
on our side of sixty, of whom nineteen were
Killed, an event which made General Scott a
name as one of the greatest generals of
modern times. His march to the capital of
Mexico and the victories en- route still fur
ther added to the laurelS.
The navy was also kept busy during the
war, and the precedent was set by the
country for the employment of auxiliary
cruisers: Under an act of Congress there
were being built thirteen steamers to carry
the mails. so arranged to be convertible
INTO war vessels of the first class.
IN some OF the battles our force of 1000
ln1llcted loss of 900 to an army of 900
the Americans losing but sixty. The sum
ming up of the American campaign in the
march to the capital was a loss to the
enemy of 1000 in killed and wounded with
\ a,Hb jTIi
while our loss was = 7O3 and the Mexican
army was put to flight.
Other Noted Victories.
Other noted and surprising victories were
those OF Col Doniphan of the Missouri vol
I unteers, who, Christmas day in 1916, at
Braziio, with less than 500 men attacked
and defeated Mexican force of 900 their
loss being nearly $50 while the Americans
lost less than dozen; and February s
IS4', with 300 men, he attacked at Sacra-
mento PasS 5000 of the enemy, who were
fortified, infficting loss of 600 while Col.
DoniDhan had but one killed and eight
wounded.
General Kearney, January s. near San
Gabriel river, defeated Flores governor of
California and the day following fought a
large force of Meyicans, driving them off
and losing but three killed and seven
wounded. Col. Sterling Price, January "a.
at Canada, New Mexico. drove off l. 500
Mexicans, who lost 81 killed and had many
wounded. Col. Price losing but eight. two
being killed. January %, with less than 500
he encountered 700 of the enemy at EN-
bredo and DEBATED them. infiicting a loss
of so. 20 being killed while the American
loss was killed and one wounded. Feb
ruary . he attacked Pueblo de Taos. where
600 of the enemy We're fortified, and routed
them. $50 being killed. the number of
wounded being unknown. Our loss was
seven killed and IL wounded.
These instances show that fortune has
been on our side in the past much as in
recent years.
President Polk in his annual message.
December I, 1s41. referred to the delay OF
the Mexican government in entering into
negotiations for a settlement. and then re-
fused TO receive Mr.; Trist. the commission
er sent out soon after the landing at Vera
Cruz. AS will be seen. the document is
apropos TO this era.
The Presidents Views.
President Polk said "It is well known
that the only indemnity which it is in the
power to make. in satisfaction of the just
and ong-deferred claims of our citizens
against her. and the only means by which
she can reimburse the United States for
the expenses of the war. is a cession to
the United States Of a portion of her terri
tory. Mexico has no money to pay, and
no other means of making the required in
demnity. If we refuse this obtain
nothing else To reject indemnity by re-
fuSing to accept cession of territory would
wage the war, bearing all it's expenses,
without a purpose or definite object.
A treaty of peace which would
terminate the existing war, without provd-
ing for indemnity, would enable Mexico
the acknowledged debtor and herself the
aSgreSsor in the war-to relieve herself
from her just liabilities. By such treaty
our citizens who hold just demands against
her would have no remedy, either against
Mexico or their own government. Our duty
to these citizens must forever prevent such
.,t,1r 1i,,t,
vide ample means of discharging these de-
mands can receive my sanction.
"A treaty of peace should settle all exist
ing difficulties between the two countries.
If an adequate cession of territory should
be made by such treaty the United States
should release Mexico of all her liabilities.
and assume their payment to our own citi-
zens If, instead of this, the United States
were to consent to a treaty by which
Mexico should again engage to pay the
heavy amount of Indebtedness which just
indemnity to our government and our citi-
zens would impose on her, ii is notorious
that she does not possess the means to
meet such an undertaking. From such a
treaty no result could be anticipated. but
the same irritating disappointments which
have heretofore attended the violations of
similar treaty stpulations on the part of
Mexico. Such treaty would be but a tenn
porary cessation of hostlities. without the
restoration of the friendship and good un-
derstanding which should characters the
future intercourse between the two coun-
tries.
That Congress contemplated the acuui-
sitlon of territorial indemnity when that
body made provision for the prosecution
of the war, is obvious. Congress could not
nave meant-when in May, 1886 they ap-
proprlated slo,H0,000 and authorized the
President to employ the militia and naval
and military forces of the United States.
and to accept the services of 80 COO yoI,n
teers, to enable him to prosecute the war
and when at their last session, and after
our army had invaded Mexico they made
additional appropriations and authorized
the raising of additional troops for the
same purpose-that no indemnity was to be
obtained from Mexico at the conclusion
of the war and yet it was certain that, if
no Mexican territory was acquired, no in
demnity could be obtained
After noting that Congress had appro-
priated S5.H10,oo0 as evidence that that body
contemplated territorial indemnity, on his
Recommendation distinctly stated, he says:
Louisiana and Florida.
Similar appropriations made in 1903 and
1896. which were referred to, were intended
to be applied in part consideration for the
cession of Louisiana and the Floridas In