The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-02-24
WAR NOT INEVITABLE

j In place Of the eighteenth there would
have been no necessity for 1t. More
than fifty years ago, when there was
considerable agitation in Canada for
independence or annexation to the
United States, the London Times, re-
necting the sentiments of the govern
meut and people of Great Britain,
used this positive language I'VE have
been taught wisdom by experience,
end the most valuable as well as the
most costly of our lessons mas Leen
taught by the barren issue Of don
fict with a province which from re-
monstrance drifted to rebellion and
crowned rebellion with INDEPENDENCE
VS. should not go to war for the
sterile honor of retaining a reluctant
colony in subsection. We should not
purchase unwilling obedience by the
outlay of treasure or blood" Should
Canada today, resolutely and with a
fair degree of unanimity, determine
to set up an Independent government,
it would meet with no armed opposi-
ton from Great Britain.
The War of 1912, our first foreign
conflict, was, far from being newt
able While it was justifiable, ac-
cording to the rules of international
( law, the better sentiment of the com
try was opposed to it. The President,
/ Mr.: Madison, did all in his power to
prevent it, but he was overruled by
/ few fiery spirits in Congress known
as the War Hawks" Henry Clay and
John c, Calhoun, then young men,
being the leaders who played upon the
sentiment of hostility at that time
so fresh against England. The de-
olaration of war was passed by Con
gress after a long and heated debate,
large minority vote being cast
against it, Five days after this ac-
ton, but unknown in America owing
to the slow means of communication,
the orders in Council were repealed,
and thus the main cause of the war
was removed
The fateful decision had been made,
and Mr. Clay, the leader of the war
party, predicted the conquest of Ca
NADIA and that we would dictate peace
at Quebec or Halifax. But our armies
crossed the frontier only to be driven
back in defeat, and though we gain
ed some glory on the water, the con-
flict was barren of results, and we
made peace without settling a single
question about which we entered on
! the contest. Never was a war more
| fruitless in it's conclusion 1t was
neither inevitable nor necessary.
! It is the judgment of history that
our second foreign war-that with
Mexico-was provoked on our part,
and that it was largely inspired by
the spirit of slavery extension. Al
though the annexation of Texas, a
revolted colony of Mexico, led to the
armed contest, the immediate cause
of the conflict was a disputed question
of territory. Our government at the
same time had a similar territorial
question on our northwest coast with
Great Britain even of more heated
character. The party which elected
Mr.. Polk to the presidency had de-
clared for "ffty-fOur forty or fight
that is, We must contend at the hazard
of war for our extreme claim against
England But just then the British
had concluded a war with China, and
had a strong army and a formidable
navy which could be sent at once to
the dispute. Under such circum-
stances our government prudently de
cided to make terms with England
and surrendered our claim to more
than, half of the territory in dispute
rs Our contract with our weaker
neighbor on the south was in mark
ed contrast. Without waiting for the
result of negotiations, President Polk
with no authority from Congress, sent
an army under General Taylor to oc'
cupy the disputed territory, and thus
precipitated a war which as | have
said, in the judgment of historians, al
most without exception, has been pro
nounced not only unnecessary but un
justifa BILE. A book has recently
appeared which is written with view
to reverse this judgment but it furn-
ishes new proofs to sustain the iudg
ment, in the declaration of President
, Tyler who brought about the annexa
ton of Texas, that the question OF
boundaries was purposely left open
for negotiation" which he expected
would be adjusted "by pacific arrange
ment;" and he accused his successor
of having precipitated war by advanc'
ing TaylOrs troops to the Rio Grande
i Although the results of the war were
greatly to the advantage of the United
States, that does not change the fact
that il was provoked on our part and