Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-29
A HISTORIC PRECEDENT.

1878 we had some double dealing prac-
ticed upon US by the Spaniards in Flor
ida and the question became acute as
to what we ought to do about the mat
ter. Either we had to allow the Don
10 put us to open shame before the
world just after he had successfully
repealed the second British invasion of
our country, or we had to assert our
continued ability to hold our own on
this continent without the aid or con-
sent of any foreign power"
One of the present questions of the
occasion was whether we should oc-
cupy Florida by force of arms and
challenge Spain to GUST us from its
conquered possession. Monroe had be-
come president the year before and
John G. Calhoun, the great South Caro-
lln1an, was his secretary of war. Old
Hickory jackson was general in COM
mand of our forces operating to hold
the Spaniards to their own and re-
qu1re of them respect for the rights
OF our country. Mr.. Calhoun says the
crisis was comprehended in the words
policy of the administration in the
justice with force" and to secure the
first the other was necessary in
what ever measure emergency might
require.
Such. in effect was the understand
ing given to General Jackson, who
proceeded in his own peculiar way to
give vigorous play to that policy of
justice with force" On April he
captured ST. Marks, May "a he took
possession of Pensacola, and on May
u he reduced the Spanish fortress of
the Barancas. In fact, Jackson seemed
to be little too strenuous. Mr.. Call
houn in letter to ex-United States
Senator Charles TAFT, of Georgia, on
July 20, 1918, says:
The taking of Pensacola has, no
doubt. caused much speculation to the
south, as well as in other parts of the
union. AS you know, the act was un-
authorized, and done by Jackson on mis-
own responsibility
Yet before Jackson could be stopped
ne had cowed the Spaniards and laid
the foundation for the treaty of Feb
ruary, 1919, by which Florida was
ceded to the United States. BY reason
OF the revolution of 1890 in Spain the
cession did not become effective until
February, 1921, and in April following,
Mr.. Calhoun writes to TAFT:
The taking of Pensacola has, no
doubt. caused much speculation to the
south, as well as in other parts of the
union. AS you know, the act was un-
authorized, and done by jackson on his
own responsibility"
1t is interesting to inquire what Pres
1dent Monroe and congress and the
people did about this enforced expan-
sion of our territory and authority by
this strenuous General Jackson?
Remember that Mr.. Calhoun says of
the result that:
BY the acquisition of Florida we
acquire a country of more value to
us than the one between the Sabine
and the Del Norte (Texas), not in eS-
tent, soil or climate. but what to us is
more important. in position and naval
and commercial advantages. Next to
Cuba, the ports Of Florida will COM
mand the trade of the Gulf of Mex
ico."
For this great result did President
Monroe order Jackson<to be court mar
tailed? Did congress seek to degrade
him and undo his work? Did the peo-
pie lift UP their hands in horror and
say: I'VE want Florida but we want
1t without any faint of foreknowledge,
force or connivance?"
On the contrary, Secretary Calhoun
said of jackson: He honestly and
1airly thought that he had the right
to do what he did," and that it was a
case lin which from the popularity of
the general it was impolitic to pun
ish;" rather sit was thought it would
be highly improper lin view of the
previous conduct of Spain) to order
eral."
hSl 2 CUT lio olEliS dI1y Wnerel
the character and national tempera-
ment of the American people have so
radically changed between that time
and this. We should be inclined, in
deed. to hold that their spirit of that
era is greatly enlarged and more per-
sistently patriotic now. and that they
cannot be depended upon to so back
on any vindication of American rights
and privileges, even though estab-
lished by policy of Justice with
force
The Constitution recalls this historic
matter in order that our leaders of to-
day may take occasion by it to consid-
err carefully whether they will in the
Panama canal treaty matter, stand by
the popular verdict and support that
policy of Justice with force" that can
alone guarantee to us the rights that
all the world comedies belong to the
United States.
Or, will they oppose the people?
Will they defeat the treaty and the
canal? Will they destroy the demo-
cratic party's previous initiative and
record as the champion of this great
waterway? And. worst of all. will they
allow fiimsy sentiment to lead them
where Monroe and Calhoun would not
go in an almost parallel case and so
insure the presidency to the party
that ought to profit by this ques-
ton?