The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-04-24
our RELATIONS WITH MEXICO

cts OF the Mexicans had been sulfi
cient to Justify a declaration of W.
on our part, the declaration wa.
made. and war ensued.
So far as we know the name of the
American said to have been killed by
Mexican on American soil was new
er given, nor was the exact spot ever
definitely ascertained. 1t may have
been a real or only fancied incident.
But the mass of the people. then as
now, wanted war. Do as we may, and
say what we may, there seems to be
lust for war IL seems to be in the
very air. "Tis true, It's true, it's
pity; and pity tbs It's true!"
We said then that we were going to
war only to maintain the rights and
dignity of the nation and not for per-
sonal ggrandizement-not for the &C
QUESTION OF additional territory.
We only called for fifty thousand
volunteers. but three hundred and fif-
ty thousand promptly offered their
services. but only fifty thousand were
enlisted.
With these we crossed the border
and the campaign resulted in Sc
ries of the most brilliant victories
that ever adorned the arms of any
nation. States and territories were
overrun and subjected, equal in extent
10 one-half of the Mexican confedera-
cy, California, New Mexico, Chihua-
hua. Coahuila, New Leon and Temaul-
ipas. besides many important towns
and cities in other states. were reduc-
ed to our possession. Texas had al
ready been coded to US.
II was almost like jumping on a
cripple.
Grant tells us that his Pity was
aroused by the sight of the Mexican
garrisons marching out of the towns
as prisoners, and no debut, he tells
US, that the same feeling was expert
enced by most of the army officers
and men who witnessed them. Many
Of the prisoners, he tells us, were cav
airy. armed with lances. and mounted
on miserable little half-starved hors-
es that did not look as If they could
carry their riders out of town. The
men looked in but little better condi-
ton. Il thought" says this great sol
der, how little interest the men be-
fore me had in the results of the war,
and how little knowledge they had of
what 1t was all about"
After the termination of hostilities
and the Mexicans made such an alb
ject and humiliating capitalization, we
demanded indemnity for the past"
and security for the future"
Those American statesmen who OPP
posed the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Mexico
said that indemnity for the past"
meant one-half of Mexico; security
for the future" meant the other half.
Had we let it go at that, perhaps we
would be better off today, and would
not now have our present troubles on
our hands. But that is only fitful
imaginataion-it might have resulted
in our being much worse off.
After the capitulation of the Mex
lean army to our arms, we then sent
larger force across the Rio Grande
than we had when actual hostilities
were in progress. We did this to
overawe the MeXicans and force them
to cede to us a certain part of their
territory as indemnity
So we now proclaim that we only
want to maintain the dignity, sover
eighty and rights of the United States
and respect for her flag, and that i
we send an army into Mexico it will
not be for the acquisition of one foot
of her territory So far so good.
But we said the same thing in 1S46
and statesmen were no less sincere
then than they are today.
On another occasion we said that
We made a declaration OF war agalnS'
Spain for the same purpose-to main
tain respect for our flag and for the
honor and dignity of the nation.
At the termination of hostilities We
found ourselves in the possession o.
the Isle of Pines, the Philippines, ant
concessions in the Hawaiian Islands
Let's be perfectly fair this time ant
say from the beginning what we wan
and what we are going to do, anC
what we are going to have.
So far as we are concerned, we d.
not want any war-we are opposed tt
war on humane principles.
But If we have war we want indem
nifty to follow it.
: We want the Acknowledgement o