The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1910-04-28

AUTHOR or TINE MSClJCIPPI BUBBLE
ILLUSTRATIONS ,sy1AGNUy q: NEIINEk~

lands gentle and unselfish care!
"And now, look you." Calhoun con.
tinued, rising, and pacing up and
down, "look what is the evidence.
Van Zandt, charge d'affaires in Wash
ington for the Republic of Texas,
wrote Secretary Upshur only month
before Upshur's death, and told him
to go carefully or he would drive
Mexico to resume the war, and SO cost
Texas the friendship of England! Ex-
cellent Mr.. Van Zandt! at least
know what the friendship of England
means. So, he asks us if we will pro
tect Texas with troops and ships in
case she does sign that agreement of
annexation Cunning Mr.. Van Zandt!
He knows what that answer must be
today, with England ready to fight
us for Texas and Oregon both, and
we wholly unready for war. Cunning
Mr.. Van Zandt, covert friend of Eng
land! And lucky Mr.. Upshur, who
was killed, and SO never had to make
that answer!"
But, John, another will have to
make it, the one way or the other"
said his friend.
"Yes!" The long hand smote on
the table
President Tyler has offered you
Mr.. Upshur's portfolio as secretary of
staten
"Yes!" The long hand smote again.
DR.. Ward made no comment be-
yond long whistle, as he recrossed
his legs His eyes were fixed on Cal
houn's frowning face. There will be
events!" said he at length, grinning.
Il have not yet accepted" said Cal
houn. "If l do, it will be to bring
Texas and Oregon into this Union, one
slave, the other free, but both vast,
and of mighty future for us. That
done, resign at once"
"Will you accept?"
CalhOun's answer was first to pick
up paper from his desk. See, here
is the dispatch Mr.. Pakenham brought
from Lord Aberdeen of the British
ministry to Mr. Upshur just two days
before his death. Judge whether
Aberdeen wants liberty-or territory!
In effect he re-asserts England's right
to interfere in our affairs. We fought
one war to disprove that. England has
said enough on this continent. And
England has meddled enough"
Calhoun and Ward looked at each
other, sober in their realization of the
grave problems which then beset
American craftsmanship and Amer
lean thought The old doctor was first
to break the silence. Then do you
accept? Will you serve again, John?"
Listen to me. If do accept, l shall
take Mr.. Upshur's and Mr.. Nelson's
place only on one condolences, if
l do, here is what / saail say to Eng
land regarding Texas. l shall show
her what Monroe doctrine is; shall
show her that while Texas is small
and weak, Texas and this republic are
not. This is what l have drafted as a
possible reply. shall tell Mr. Paken-
ham that his chiefs avowal of inten-
tions has made it our imperious duty,
in self-defense, to hasten the annexa-
ton of Texas, cost what it may, mean
what it may! John Calhoun does not
shilly-shally.
THAT will be my answer" repeated
my chief at last Again they looked
gravely, each into the others eye,
each knowing what all this might
mean
Yes, shall have Texas, as l shall
have Oregon, settled before l lay
down my arms, Sam Ward No, am
not yet ready to die!" Calhoun's old
fire now famed in all his mien.
''The situation is extremely diff
cult" said his friendly slowly 1T
must be done; but how? We are as
nation not ready for war You as a
statesman are not adequate to the
politics of all this. Where is your
political party, John? You have none.
You have outrun all parties 1t will
be your ruin, that you have been
honest!"
Calhoun turned on him swiftly.
you know as well as l that mere
politics will not serve 1t will take
some extraordinary measure = you
know men-and, perhaps, women"
"Yes," said DIR. Ward, land pre-
cious silly lot they are; the two run
ming after each other and forgetting
each other; using and wasting each
other; running and despoiling each
other, all the years, from Troy to
Rome! But yes! For a man, set a
woman for a trap. Vice versa, sup
pose?"
Calhoun nodded, with thin smile.
CAS- it chances, need a man. Ergo,
and very plainly, l must use a WON
AM"
They looked at each other for q
moment. That Calhoun planned some
deep-laid stratagem was plain, but
his speech for the time remained enig-
matte, even to his most intimate com
panion.
There are two women in our world
to-day" said Calhoun "As to Jack
son, the old fool was a monogamist,
and still is. Not so much so Jim
Polk of Tennessee. Never does he ap
pear in public with eyes other than
for the Dona Lucrezia of the Mexican
legation! Now, one against the other
Mexico against Austria"
DR.. Ward raised his eyebrows in