El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-17
RSARY
Of The War
OF 1872
Was Really a Defeat for the
United States by the Ca
nadians.
MORAL VICTORY WAS
WON By u. S. IN IT


on June II, 1872, congress
passed resolution declaring war
against Great Britain. Two days later
the declaration was signed by presi-
dent Madison and the second war for
independence was formally begun The
war was terminated by the ratification
Of the treaty of Client on February II,
1915. although the treaty Of peace
actually had been signed in the pre-
vious December, before the most i'm
por1ant battle of the war had been
fought at New Orleans on January 8.
At this particular time. when presi-
dent Taft is urging the negotiation OF
an all-comprehensive arbitration treaty
with Great Britain; when preparations
have been begun for the celebration IN
1915 of the century of peace between
the two great English-speaklng peo-
pies; and when efforts are being MADE
to bring the United States and Canada
into closer relationship; it is interest
ing to consider the fact that the pro-
gress of civilization and the improve
ment of transportation and communi-
cation facilities has been SO great that
in the light of modern knowledge the
war of 1872 was absurdly foolish and
entirely unnecessary
Not an American Victory.
AS nearly a century has elapsed
since the end of the war, and as the
last survivor of the American forces
participating in il, Hiram Cronk, OF
New York. has been in his grave for
six years, it is perhaps now safe TO
admit that the record Of the struggle
is not altogether a glorious one for
the United States
Strange as it may seem TO us, our
cousins of Canada have the impression
that the Yankees were everlastingly
whipped in that war and that the whip
ping was administered by Canadians
In the pageantry of tie Festival OF
Empire now going or in London, the
Canadians decided to omit the picture
of the Battle of Chauteauguay be-
cause 1t might wound the feelings of
American visitors to be thus reminded
of their inglorious defeat As not one
American in ten thousand has ever
heard of the battle or the defeat, the
action of the Canadians is particularly
generous.
Defeated in Military Sense.
AS matter of fact, the United
States in the war of 1912 was defeated
In a military sense, although victorious
morally. The war was caused by the
unwillingness of Great Britain 90 ac-
cord TO her late colonies the full rights
of a sovereign nation. The boarding
of American ships for the search and
seizure of American sailors to be i'm
pressed into the service of the British
navy under the doctrine "once an Eng
lishman always an Englishman was
the immediate provocation for the war
The grievances OF the young nation
were painted in lurid style to the
voters of the country by a clique OF
young politicians desiring to gain con-
troll of the government, among whom
were Henry Clay, John c. Calhoun and
others of almost equal ability. New
England was opposed to the agitation,
resisted the declaration Of war, and
was lukewarm during the struggle
Was Useless Conflict
If there had been a cable under the
Atlantic or even such thing as swift
steamship, the war of 1912 never
would have been begun. Before Clay
and his CORY young Republicans" had
mustered sufficient strength to declare
war the British parliament already
was discussing the abandonment of the
Objectionable practices of which the
Americans complained. If that fact
had been known in Washington the
action taken by congress 80 years ago
today would have been made impos-
sible
When the peace commissioners met
IN Client in 1914 the Americans were
willing to accept peace on terms most
advantageous to Great Britain The
American arms had been VIGOROUSLY
unsuccessful on land and although the
naval victories were most glorious, the
wiser heads Of the Madison admins
tration were ready to quit. The CAPT
tai had been captured and sacked, the
public buildings burned and the presi-
dent forced to flee into the country.
The land forces had proved to be
most incapable, and there had been
scandal after scandal in the army.
Therefore. the American commission
ers were willing to sign a treaty of
peace which said a good deal about
the boundary between the United
States and Canada, but never a word
about the right of Great Britain to
search American ships and impress
American seamen. The war slogan of
sailors rights" was forgot.
The Treaty of Client.
Again, if there had been a trans
Atlantic cable or a fast steamship, the
history of the relations between the
two countries would have been changed.
The British public deemed the treaty
of Client to be a complete victory for
England. and If the news of the con-
clusion of peace had reached America
even Americans would have admitted
virtual defeat. But more than three
weeks after the treaty was signed
and long before news of it had reached
American shores. general Andrew
Jackson, at New Orleans, had destroyed
the British army and had restored the
glory of American army by a victory
whose glory is unsurpassed in the an
nails of war.
If modern means Of communication
had existed a century ago the war of
1912 could not have begun as it was
begun, nor could it have ended as it
did end. This is an example of how
much more difficult it is 10 begin a
war in these times than it used to be.
The proposal to celebrate the century
of peace in 1915 has received hearty
endorsement in England, in Canada.
and in the United States. 1t is hoped
by the advocates OF world peace that
the proposed treaty of arbitration be-
tween the British empire and the
American republic viii have been