The sun., 1908-05-10


with a view Of reaching a settlement Of the
Oregon boundary question. an offer which
was declined. Having served as the
mouthpiece Of the Polk Administration in
its communication with a living eK-Presi-
dent, II soon fell TO Bancroft's lot To pro-
nounce the official eulogy upon a dead
leader. On June 8, isl5. Andrew jackson
died; on June n there was a commemora-
tion Of his death In Washington, and Ban
croft was the orator Of the day. The biog-
rapher expresses the opinion that there
could have been for Bancroft no more con-
genial task than 20 celebrate aud interpret
the life OF the Democratic chieftain.
l.
The enduring monument. however. Of
Bancroft's work in the Cabinet Of Polk
is 10 be found rather in what he did than
In anything he said. The Naval Academy
at Annapolis owes its inception 10 Ban
oroit's administrative ability. The need
Of a school for naval officers. indeed had
long been recognized but the recommen-
dations OF many Secretaries had been OF no
avail. When Bancroft took charge Of the
Navy Department the school seemed al
most a. far In the future as ever. On Oc-
tober 10, ls45 it was formally opened
thus 1t was says the historian Of the
Naval Academy. that In less than eight
months after assuming the duties Of his
Office Secretary Bancroft was enabled to
present 10 the country a fully organized
academy in efficient working order which
was destined TO do for the navy what West
Point had done for the army During a
single recess Of Congress he had accom-
plished what his predecessors had for thirty
years tried in vain to secure by legislation.
He cannot be described as the founder Of
the National Observatory. but he obtained
large appropriations for the institution.
and did all he could to carry forward and
perfect what he had found begun.
Bancroft's personal and official relation TO
the Mexican War and the conduct thereof
n matter both Of private and OF public
record, When he Joined Folks Cabinet
his view Of the Mexican situation was
summed up In letter 10 a correspondent
in New York: 'You are quite right in
eupposing the disposition Of this Govern
ment toward Mexico 10 be Of the most
cohciliatory character. hope war IA per-
manently out Of fashion in the civilized
world; but at least hope and trust that
the savage custom is not to intrude itself
into the relations OF American republics
with each other Less than a week after
writing this letter Bancroft found him
self. by an order Of the President dated
May 81, isi5, not only Secretary OF the
Navy but Acting Secretary Of War during
n temporary absence Of Secretary Marcy.
On May % Marcy had written to General
Zachary Taylor letter preparing him for
an important communication which Ban
croft was destined 10 write, This was no
less than an order (June IS, ls45). issued
IN anticipation of the action Of Texas which
should make il a State Of the Union-to
make a forward movement to the Western
frontier Of Texas with view TO occupying
q site best adapted to repel invasion and
to protect what in the event of annexation
will be our Western border. You will
limit yourself the order continued, "to
the defence Of the Territory Of Texas. un-
less Mexico should declare war against the !
United States As the MeEicans still con-
sldered the territory into which Taylor
advanced a part Of their republic it was
this forward movement ordered by Ban
croft, as the temporary head Of the War
Department which precipitated the MeIi-
can War.
The biographer points out that in achiev- |
ing the most important result Of the con !
fiict with Mexico, namely, the acquisition Of
California, the navy played OF necessity
leading role The series Of orders issued |
by Bancroft 10 Commodore Sloat COM
our ships in the Pacific, reveal |
the Secretary as clearly foreseeing the pos
sibility OF war, directing the policy and
actions Of the commander in the event OF
la outbreak. and urging upon him more
activity than he had shown in the carrying
nut Of his Instructions. In the fulhlment
NJ these orders Monterey, San Francisco and
other California towns we're taken, though
loo slowly TO satisfy the Washington au-
lhorities. We need not say that Bancroit's
part in helping to direct war distasteful
TO his native New England added nothing
10 his popularity there. His aim. however,
was to be rather a national than q New
England statesman. The biographer tells
ls that II was Bancroft's feeling In later
life that he had never received enough
credit for the part he played In adding
California to the Union.